During the reporting period (May), the Israeli authorities continued to impose their closure on the Gaza Strip for the 12th consecutive year. They continued to impose tightened restrictions on on the movement of the Gaza Strip population as most of them are not allowed to leave or return to the Gaza Strip via the Beit Hanoun Crossing “Erez.” However, the Israeli authorities narrowly allow some categorioes such as patients of urgent cases and their companions who undergo a very long and complicated process in order to get travel permits and tighitened security measures while traveling through the crossing. During May, the Israeli authorities stationed at Beit Hanoun “Erez” Crossing obstructed the travel of 865 patients referred for treatment in the hospitals in Israel and the West Bank, including occupied Jerusalem. The Israeli authorities rejected the travel of many patients under several pretexts, including security reasons, changing the companions, delaying responses to the permits and asking for new appointments, and asking patients for security interviews.
The Israeli authorities continued to ban the Gaza Strip exports, except for very limited quantities; most of them were agricultural products. The rate of exports in May was 6.5% of the total monthly Gaza exports before the closure. The Israeli authorities also continued to impose restrictions on the entry of goods classified as “dual-use materials”, which are around 118 types and include hundreds of basic goods and commodities.
The full report is available online at:
https://pchrgaza.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/clouser_update_may_2019-en.pdf
