Can Hamas Afford to End Gaza's Isolation?

As the primary political power in Gaza, Hamas finds itself at an impasse. Domestically, the dire living conditions caused by the blockade have prompted mounting pressure on the group. The situation in Gaza is rapidly approaching total economic and social collapse, especially since September 2015, when the Egyptian army destroyed many of the underground tunnels that run from Gaza into Sinai and serve as the economic lifeline of Gaza and its people. To make matters worse, Hamas’ finances have suffered drastically since Iran cut its financial support for the group in 2012 after Hamas disavowed the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in the early days of that country’s civil war. The resulting budget shortage has crippled Hamas’ hand and further limited its choices.