Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip is now 18 months old, and UN officials say the humanitarian crisis is approaching catastrophic proportions. What is behind Israel’s recent escalation of the blockade? What is its endgame? What significance might upcoming Israeli elections have for the Gaza crisis and the broader conflict? Finally, what does the election of Barack Obama—once sympathetic to Palestinians, now staunchly pro-Israel and surrounding himself by hawkish Zionists—portend for Israel/Palestine? Amal Subawu reports live from Gaza along with US-based Palestinian activists Huwaida Arraf of the Free Gaza Movement and Ali Abunimah, co-editor of Electronic Intifada and one-time acquaintance of Barack Obama.