A Report on the Impact of the Israeli Closure on
Civilians in the Gaza Strip after the Third anniversary of the Latest Israeli
Offensive on the Gaza Strip

June 2010-November 2011

Summary

IOF alleged claims: the present report analyses the claims by Israel on the easing of the closure and restrictions imposed on the movement of people and goods since June 2010.  In effect, the reporting period (June 2010 – November 2011) did not witness any real change on the movement at commercial crossings or those designated for  the movement of persons.  Although the quantity of imports allowed into Gaza increased, the majority of these imports were food and consumables.  The IOF have persisted at preventing the entry of most of the basic goods, raw materials, industrial equipment and machines.  Besides, the IOF have insisted on the complete ban on the exportation of all types of products from the Gaza Strip, excluding very limited quantities of flowers and strawberries.

Continuous deterioration of the humanitarian conditions and economic and social rights: the Israeli policies succeeded in undermining any real opportunity to revive the economy of the Gaza Strip and to let the economic sectors work again.

Violation of the right to an adequate standard of living: the rights of civilians in the Gaza Strip to an adequate standard of living, such as their rights to an adequate housing, work, social insurance, health and education, have been violated by Israel through its closure’s systematic policy.

 Food insecurity: 71% of the Gaza Strip population suffers from food insecurity; 65% of whom are children.
This constitutes a significant rise in comparison to the past years rates. For instance, 41% of the population was food insecure in 2003.  As a result, the levels of malnutrition, weight loss, stunted growth and anemia increased and exceeded the levels of the neighboring countries.

Water conditions: according to the World Health Organization (WHO), 90% of the potable water in the Gaza Strip is polluted and unfit for drinking. The number of families that do not have water supply for a day or three days a week reached 39%, while 20% of the families have at least a child under the age of five, who suffers from diseases resultant from the bad quality of water and sanitation.

Fuel: Due to the limitation by Israel on the quantities of fuel allowed into the Gaza Strip since 2008, Palestinians in the Gaza Strip depend on the fuel smuggled from Egypt through the tunnels to meet their needs.