Strait of Hormuz blockade and other major naval sieges in modern times

The Strait of Hormuz , a narrow waterway once carrying roughly a fifth of the world’s oil and gas, remains effectively closed after the United States and Iran imposed competing blockades . Naval blockades are one of the oldest weapons in warfare, requiring no ground troops or invasion, just the ability to cut off what an enemy needs to survive. These blockades have reshaped economies, societies and alliances across generations, sometimes with instant shockwaves, sometimes with effects only seen later. Recommended Stories list of 4 items end of list From Israel’s ongoing siege of the Gaza Strip to blockades during World War I, here are some notable naval blockades in modern history: Israel’s siege of Gaza (2007-present) A view of the severely damaged Gaza City port as fishermen work under difficult conditions due to Israeli attacks, March 8, 2025 [Hamza ZH Qraiqea/Anadolu] Israel’s complete land, sea and air blockade of the Gaza Strip is one of the longest sieges in modern history. Launched in 2007, Israel has limited the entry of goods and essential supplies, causing a prolonged humanitarian and economic crisis for the Strip’s 2.3 million people, who cannot travel freely. Before Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza began in October 2023, fishermen were restricted to 6-15 nautical miles (11-28km) from shore, well below the 20-nautical-mile (37km) zone guaranteed by the Oslo Accords . …