A colony’s role is to provide of raw materials to its more industrialized mother country. A colony typically supplies resources such as minerals, agricultural products, or timber that are used in the manufacturing processes of the mother country. ——— What benefit has Gaza providing for Israel other than costly headaches? This is why every last Jews removed themselves from Gaza in 2005, and it appeased no one.
Prior to 1967, there were no Israeli settlements in Gaza or the West Bank, and Israel was a constant target. So settlements were never the issue. They just could not stand the idea of Jewish State in the Middle East.