>>>>What was given back was Gaza (unilaterally)
>>>
>>>It was also taken unilaterally, too. So I'm not patting Israel on the back for giving a smaller Gaza back.
>>
>>Wasn't. It was taken in the 1967 War (the Six-Day War) started by Egypt who was in posession of Gaza.
>
>Israel was fighting for the existence of their state, which is a just cause for any nation. But after easily defeating 5 nations in 6 days (Palestine, Egypt, Jordan, Iraq and Syria) they ocuppied Gaza and the west bank for almost 40 years. They could have withdrawn after their victory, but instead built settlements to lay claim to the two areas. So when after 40 years, they decide to give back a portion of Palestine, I don't congratulate them.
>
>> The Sinai was given back to Egypt in exchange for peace. Gaza was given back in exchange for a hope for peace. Sadly it is not that easy.
>
>What are they supposed to say? Thanks for giving us our land back? Thanks for decades of occupation?


Let's not be that naïve. When you have a very small territory and you are surrounded by enemies, the more buffer around you the better. These are chips you use to negotiate for peace. Worked with Egypt, didn't it?

Since when occupiers give land back freely, without getting something back for the trouble? Look throughout history and tell me how many cases can you count where they left on their own accord? Did the Canadian settlers (or US for that matter) give back the territory conquered to the natives? Japan took a lot in WWII and before and had to give it back only by force. And so on.