Why did Israel and Egypt impose a blockade on the Gaza Strip after Hamas took power?

Following the Hamas takeover of the Gaza Strip in June 2007, both Israel and Egypt imposed a blockade on the territory for security and political reasons.12

Israel declared the Gaza Strip a "hostile entity" in response to the militant group's seizure of power and the subsequent rise in rocket attacks targeting southern Israeli settlements. This led to a series of sanctions, including border closures, power cuts, and severe restrictions on imports. Israel’s primary objective was to weaken Hamas’s military capacity and pressure the organization, which is designated as a terrorist group by Israel, the United States, and the European Union.1342

Egypt also participated in enforcing the blockade, largely due to security concerns regarding its own border with Gaza. While the enforcement of the blockade was often unpopular with the Egyptian public, the Egyptian government maintained restrictions at the Rafah border crossing to manage security risks, particularly during periods of political instability in Egypt. Over the following years, the blockade was periodically adjusted based on ceasefire agreements and security conditions in the region.12