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Ref: 178/2004

Date: 16 December  2004

Time: 12:00 GMT

PCHR Warns of the Consequences of Closing Rafah Terminal for a Long Time 

PCHR is gravely concerned for the closure of Rafah Terminal on the Palestinian-Egyptian border by Israeli occupation authorities, especially in light of reports that they intend to close the terminal for a long period.  PCHR calls upon the international community and humanitarian organizations to immediately intervene and pressure the Israeli occupation authorities to reopen the terminal, as this policy of closure constitutes a form of collective punishment against Palestinian civilians.  Rafah Terminal has been the only outlet for the Gaza Strip to the outside world since 14 February 2001, when Israeli occupying forces destroyed the runway of Gaza International Airport. 

 According to information available to PCHR, Israeli occupation authorities have closed the terminal since Sunday, 12 December 2004.  According to reports available to PCHR, Israeli occupation authorities intend to maintain this closure for a long period, claiming that they want to search for outlets of the tunnel that was used by members of the Palestinian resistance to destroy an Israeli military post near the terminal, which caused several casualties among Israeli troops.    As a result, Palestinian civilians have not been able to travel abroad, and many patients who are badly in need for special medical treatment abroad have not been able to travel.  The closure of the terminal will prevent Palestinian pilgrims from traveling to Saudi Arabia for pilgrimage next month. 

 Following the outbreak of the current Intifada in September 2000, Israeli occupation authorities closed the terminal and all other border crossing of the Gaza Strip. According to PCHR’s documentation, since the beginning of the current Intifada in September 2000, the Terminal has been sporadically closed for at least 180 days, while it has been partially closed in the remaining days.

 In the days of partial closure, the terminal operates in a very limited capacity; the average number of travelers who pass through is about 400 compared to 1000 normally. In addition, Israeli occupying troops impose severe restrictions on travel, causing extreme suffering for Palestinian travelers, including women and children.  Travelers are deprived of basic services, and some of them are forced to spend their nights at the Egyptian side of the terminal under severe conditions, waiting to be allowed to enter the Gaza Strip.  The terminal is not equipped with necessary facilities that can allow sleeping at the terminal. 

 As a result of repeated closures of Rafah Terminal, thousands of Palestinian students have not been able to attend their universities abroad.  Israeli occupying troops often summon and interrogate Palestinian students traveling abroad.  Palestinians whose ages are between 16 and 35 have been prevented from traveling through Rafah Terminal.  This category of age includes many university students. 

 The Israeli restrictions imposed at Rafah Terminal have had a disastrous impact on the right to health of Palestinians. Israeli occupying troops have prevented many patients from traveling to receive medical attention abroad.  Dozens of patients are summoned and interrogated by Israeli security officers at the terminal.  Most of these patients suffer from serious diseases. In some cases, Israeli troops have arrested a number of patients or their relatives.  As a result of such Israeli restrictions, a number of patients died and a number of pregnant women were aborted.  Israeli occupying troops often prevent the entry of humanitarian and medical aids into the Gaza Strip through Rafah Terminal. 

 During the current Intifada, Israeli occupying troops have deprived hundreds of Palestinians of their right to freedom of worship.  In 2002 and 2003, Israeli occupying troops prevented many Palestinian pilgrims from traveling from the Gaza Strip to Saudi Arabia. Those pilgrims are either relatives of Palestinians who were killed during the current Intifada, or those whose travel was prohibited for security claims.  The ages of some of those pilgrims are between 16 and 35. 

 PCHR believes that Israeli measures at Rafah Terminal constitute a form of collective punishment, which violates the word and spirit of international humanitarian law.  PCHR calls upon the international community and humanitarian organizations to pressure the Israeli government to respect its obligations under the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949.          

Public Document

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For more information please call PCHR office in Gaza, Gaza Strip, on +972 8 2824776 – 2825893

PCHR, 29 Omer El Mukhtar St., El Remal, PO Box 1328 Gaza, Gaza Strip. E-mail: [email protected], Webpage http://www.pchrgaza.org