Watch the video I posted a link to in my 05 Jan 09 - 01:28 PM post in this thread. The blockade of Gaza was in effect long before Hamas took power in Gaza. The blockade was tightened after Hamas' takeover, but it was already in place long before that. That's one of the main reasons Hamas was elected in the first place. The people of Gaza knew from experience that Fatah would not or could not get the blockade ended, so they decided to give Hamas a try to see if they would be successful.