State of the Gaza Strip Border Crossings (01 – 31 May 2021)

During the reporting period, IOF launched an exhaustive military operation on the Gaza Strip between 10 and 21 May 2021, amid unprecedented tightening of the closure on the Strip.  This Israeli aggression has caused extensive destruction to the civilian facilities and inflicted heavy casualties, rendering the Gaza Strip unsafe place, where everything is under IOF’s strikes. This scene of massive destruction by IOF’s aggression proves that they meant to increase the suffering of civilians, who had already been in deteriorating humanitarian conditions due to the Israeli unjust closure imposed for the last 15 years on the Gaza Strip.

Before the beginning of the Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip, the Israeli authorities completely closed the one and only commercial crossing (Kerem Shalom) and banned the entry of the essential goods into the Strip.  Moreover, they closed Beit Hanoun “Erez” Crossing and only humanitarian cases were allowed, and completely closed the sea and banned fishing.

Following the end of the offensive and although IOF declared on 25 May 2021 the re-opening of “Kerm Shalom” crossing, the reality proves the opposite.  The Israeli authorities has imposed unprecedented restrictions on the entry of goods into the Gaza Strip via the crossing and only allowed the entry of limited quantities of food supplies and limited types of humanitarian aid for international organizations. Meanwhile, they banned the entry of all other goods and essential materials, including construction materials necessary for the reconstruction of what was destroyed by the latest Israeli offensive, and the fuel necessary for the operation of the only power plant in the Gaza Strip in addition to the equipment and materials needed to repair the massive damage caused to the water and sanitation facilities and electricity networks during the offensive.  Moreover, IOF continued to impose tightened restrictions on the entry of 62 types classified as “dual-use items” that include hundreds of goods and essential materials.  Moreover, IOF continue to ban the exportation of the Gaza Strip’s products after it was allowed to export only very limited quantities; mostly agricultural products, before the latest offensive.