3 December 2006

The State of Gaza Strip Border Crossings

20 October – 30 November 2006

Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) have continued to close all border crossings of the Gaza Strip. During the reported period, these crossings were partially reopened to allow the entry of basic foodstuffs, medical supplies and other necessities into the Gaza Strip. The total siege imposed by IOF on the Gaza Strip has left disastrous impacts on the humanitarian situation and has violated the economic and social rights of the Palestinian civilian population, particularly the rights to appropriate living conditions, health and education. It has also paralyzed most economic sectors. Furthermore, severe restrictions have been imposed on the movement of the Palestinian civilian population. As a consequence of the total siege imposed on the Gaza Strip, at least 66% of the families in the Gaza Strip live below the poverty line, marking an increase by 15%,[1] and unemployment has been estimated at 40%.[2] In addition, the living conditions in the Gaza Strip have further deteriorated with the non-payment of salaries for the public sector for 7 months as international donors have frozen aids provided to Palestinians, and Israeli authorities have suspended the transfer of tax revenues to the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) since March 2006. Moreover, the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip has severely impacted the flow of food, medical supplies and other necessities such as fuel, construction materials and raw materials for various economic sectors. This siege has had unprecedented catastrophic impacts on the living conditions of the Palestinian civilian population.

The most notable developments regarding the Gaza Strip border crossings during the reported period can be summed up in the following:

Rafah International Crossing Point

During the report period, the crossing point was closed completely for 34 days. It was partially opened for 8 days. Thus, the crossing point has been closed completely for 137 and has been partially reopened for 22 since 25 June 2006.

On 24 and 25 October 2006, the crossing point was opened and 5,653 Palestinians were able to travel to or from the Gaza Strip. On 31 October and 1 November 2006, the crossing point was

opened to allow 2500 pilgrims to travel back to the Gaza Strip and allow a number of patients and those who have residences in other countries to travel towards those countries. On 8 November 2006, the crossing point was opened for a few hours to transfer 147 Palestinians, who were wounded by IOF in Beit Hanoun to hospitals abroad, and to allow 270 Palestinians held in Egyptian airports to travel back to the Gaza Strip. On 14 and 15 November 2006, the crossing point was opened and 4,000 Palestinians were able to travel to or from the Gaza Strip.

On 28 November 2006, the crossing point was opened for 5 hours, allowing 776 Palestinians, including Prime Minister Isma’il Haniya, to travel from the Gaza Strip, and 569 others to travel back. The crossing point witnessed chaos and congestion on that day, and priority of travel was given to patients. IOF are responsible for the chaos and congestion at the crossing point due to closing it for a long time. IOF retreated from its declaration to open the crossing point on 29 November 2006, as they had already informed the Palestinian side.

Furthermore, IOF obstructed the transfer of the body of ‘Abdul Fattah Isma’il al-Kafrawi, 54, from Rafah, who died in an Egyptian hospital on 1 November 2006, to the Gaza Strip to be buried by his family. The body was brought into the Gaza Strip on 4 November 2006. Thus, the number of Palestinians who died at the Egyptian side of the crossing point or at Egyptian hospitals and IOF obstructed the transfer of their bodies to the Gaza Strip has increased to 8.

The closure of Rafah International Crossing Point have left disastrous impacts of hundreds of Palestinians, who have been stuck at the Egyptian side of the crossing after they had received medical treatment in Egypt and others who have been held at Egyptian airports. 

Rafah Commercial Crossing has been completely closed since the implementation of the unilateral Disengagement Plan on 12 September 2005.

Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing:

Before the outbreak of the current al-Aqsa Intifada on 29 September 2000, the crossing had been designed for the passage of persons and goods. Since the begging of the current Intifada, IOF have prohibited the passage of goods through the crossing and closed the Safe Passage Route, which had allowed the freedom of movement of Palestinians between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, which was first operated on 25 October 1999 in accordance with an agreement between the Palestinian National Authority and Israeli occupation authorities.[3]  IOF have prevented Palestinian workers from reaching their work places inside Israel through Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing since 12 March 2006.  IOF have allowed international workers, Palestinian officials who have VIP cards

and a number of traders to pass through the crossing. With this closure, few Palestinian patients have been able to travel to hospitals in Israel and the West Bank. IOF have occasionally allowed families to visit Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails. 

During the reported period, this crossing was completely closed for 42 days. Thus, the number of closure days of the crossing since 25 June 2006 has increased to 128. International diplomats have been excluded from this closure. International workers, staff members of international organizations and international journalists have needed prior coordination with the Israeli Liaison Office at the crossing to move to and from the Gaza Strip. As to humanitarian cases, IOF have allow the passage of 13 patients daily to receive medical treatment in Israeli and West Bank hospitals. Patients who are allowed to pass through the crossing are forced to wait for long hours to undergo complicated passage and security procedures. They are thoroughly checked in a humiliating manner. Patients are also forced to pay additional financial expenses to use Israeli ambulances to transport them from the crossing to hospitals since Palestinian ambulances are banned from transporting patients. It is noted that the number of patients passing through the crossing has progressively decreased from 50 patients daily three months ago.

Al-Mentar (Karni) Crossing:

This crossing was completely closed for 12 days[4] and partially closed for 30 days. Since 25 June 2006, the crossing has been closed for 47 days completely and 81 days partially. As a result of the closure of the crossing, many basic foodstuffs have been lacked in the markets. Prices of goods have increased due to the increase in transportation costs at the crossing; the transportation cost of a container has increased from 2,000 NIS to 9,000 NIS. IOF have allowed the entry of 200 containers loaded with goods into the Gaza Strip, and have allowed the exportation of 15 containers from the Gaza Strip.

Nahal Ouz Crossing:

This crossing is designed for fuel imports for the Gaza Strip. It has been operated below its capacity. During the report period, the crossing was closed for 10 days. Thus, the crossing has been closed for 38 days since 25 June 2006. During the report period, the crossing allowed 2,144,000 tons of benzene; 10,505,000 tons of gasoline; and 4,514 tons of gas into the Strip. These amounts of fuel can hardly meet the needs of the Gaza Strip population.

Sofa Crossing:

During the reported period, this crossing was completely closed for 22 days, whereas it was partially operated for 32 days, 7 hours daily. Since 25 June 2006, IOF have closed the crossing for 68 days. IOF allowed the entry of 38,340 tons of aggregate and construction raw materials. IOF also allowed the entry of 420 tons of milk and 200 tons of rice for World Food Prpgramme, as an aid provided to the Gaza Strip population by the Egyptian Red Crescent Society.

Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) Commercial Crossing:

This crossing was partially reopened for 12 days. IOF allowed the entry of some cables and appliances from Egypt, which are necessary to maintain the Gaza Power Plant that was destroyed by IOF on 27 June 2006. IOF also allowed the entry of some humanitarian assistance provided the Egyptian Red Crescent Society: 1,065 tons of flour; 134 tons of milk; and 482 tons of rice. The crossing has been closed for 100 days since 25 June 2006.

In light of the above:

1)     PCHR asserts that the closure imposed by IOF constitutes a form of collective punishment and retaliation against the Palestinian civilian population in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

2)     The closure violates international humanitarian law, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention, and international human rights law, particularly the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

3)     The policy of closure leaves disastrous impacts on all aspects of life in the OPT, and causes further deterioration in economic and social conditions.

PCHR reiterates its call for the international community, including the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention, to take effective steps to pressure Israel to stop collective punishment and lift the siege imposed on the OPT and force it to comply with its obligations under the international law.