Israel's imminent disengagement from the Gaza Strip has been enthusiastically embraced by a world community desperate for progress on Middle East peace. The Group of Eight industrialised nations have rushed to offer help, pledging to treble aid to the Palestinians to $3bn (£1.7bn) a year. Diplomats speak of turning Gaza into an economic model for the future Palestinian state.

But optimism over Gaza's future may be exaggerated. Unless Israel can be convinced to allow easy access in and out of the territory for goods and people, Gaza could prove a gloomy model of desperation and a dangerous setback to hopes for political progress.