Israel has subject the Gaza Strip to a closure policy since 1991, however, its current, most extreme form, has been applied continuously since 14 June 2007, following the Hamas takeover of the Gaza Strip. Despite the effects of Operation Cast Lead, the closure regime has been continuously applied. Today, the Gaza Strip has been completely cut off from the outside world for over five continuous years. Palestinians are not allowed to leave the territory, goods are not allowed to be exported, and imports have been reduced to a very limited number of items in dramatically insufficient quantities. The illegal closure of the Gaza Strip is enacted as a form of collective punishment, termed ‘economic warfare’ by the Israeli authorities. The current closure regime violates numerous principles of international humanitarian law and international human rights law, inter alia Article 43 of the Hague Regulations, Articles 33, 55 and 56 of the Fourth Geneva Convention, and the right to life, the right to the highest attainable standard of living, the right to the highest attainable standard of health, the right to freedom of movement, and the right to live in human dignity.

To download the full Fact Sheet click here