Gaza was a part of Egypt until Egypt attacked Israel, and Israel crushed the Egyptian military in the Six-Day War when Egypt tried to blockade Israel. When Israel gave the Sinai back to Egypt as part of the Camp David Accords, Egypt refused to take back the Gaza strip. Since then, Egypt has walled in the Gazans on their side. Gazans were able to obtain work permits in Israel, but obviously, those days are over for the foreseeable future.
Hamas shields itself with civilians. They are evil incarnate. They use the good of their enemies against their enemies. Peace would be great...if Hamas and other Arab & Persian Muslims will allow it.