This report documents the impact of the ongoing Israeli-imposed
siege on Palestinian civilians which affects them both economically and
socially. The report addresses the state
of commercial crossings and crossings designated to the movement of
persons. The following are the most
significant developments during the reporting period (1 – 31 May 2011):

· Israeli
Occupation Forces (IOF) have continued to impose restrictions on the Gaza
Strip’s commercial crossings, including assuming complete control of imports
and imposing a ban on exports, undermining any real opportunity to renew
industrial facilities. It also refutes Israel’s claims of allegedly easing the
siege imposed on the Gaza Strip.

· According to
statistics included in this report, there was a sharp decline in imports that
entered via Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing, which had been closed for
10 days (32.25 percent) during the reporting period. The number of truckloads reached 4,981, i.e.
an average of less than 160 truckloads daily, which represents only 28.07
percent of the average previously imported daily prior imposing the siege in
June 2007. Data also shows a large
reduction in Gaza’s agricultural exports. IOF allowed the export of only 172,000 flowers, which refutes Israel’s
claims that it allowed the exportation of 10 truckloads of Gaza’s agricultural
products daily.

· During the
reporting period the season of exporting flowers and strawberries ended. From the start of the season last November
until the end of the reporting period, 10 million flowers of the 60 million
flowers produced annually (16.6 percent) in the Gaza Strip had been exported.
Of the 1,500 tons of strawberries produced, only 400 tons were exported at the
start of strawberry season. This number represents 26.6 percent of Gaza’s
annual strawberry production. It should be noted that the Gaza Strip’s exports
in 2005 reached a daily average of 70 truckloads.

· Statistics and
data refute Israel’s claims of allegedly easing the siege imposed on the Gaza
Strip and doubling the number of truckloads allowed into the Gaza Strip. The percentage of imports are low and do not
meet the minimum needs of the Gaza Strip’s population. Besides, most of these imports are
consumables. Various types of raw
materials have been banned, excluding the limited types that are allowed entry under
complicated measures, proving what the Palestinian Center for Human Rights
(PCHR) warned against a year ago when Karm Abu Salem crossing was made the Gaza
Strip’s sole commercial crossing. Based on field observation, we stressed that
the operational capacity of the crossing would not meet the basic needs of the
Gaza Strip.

· In May, IOF’s
frequent closure of Karm Abu Salem crossing resulted in reduced cooking gas
supply. They completely halted the supply of cooking gas for 12 days. However, they allowed the entry of limited
quantities which reached approximately 2,730 tons over 19 days. The daily average of the Gaza Strip’s cooking
gas imports reached 88 tons, which represents 44 percent of actual daily needs
that reach 200 tons daily in summer. The cooking gas crisis has been rising for
seven months due to the complete closure of Nahal Oz crossing, which had been
designated to the Gaza Strip’s import of fuel and cooking gas. The limited
operational capacity of Karm Abu Salem crossing further impacted the crisis.

·  

· During the
reporting period, IOF allowed the entry of 73,000 litres of benzene and 340,000
litres of diesel for the private sector and UNRWA. Before the decision to reduce Gaza’s fuel
imports, there was approximately 350,000 litres of diesel and 120,000 litres of
benzene daily. The Gaza Strip depends on the quantities of benzene and diesel
smuggled through tunnels at the Gaza-Egypt border.

· IOF have been
delaying the implementation of the decision to allow the entry of 60 vehicles
into the Gaza Strip daily without providing any reason. It has been over 11
months since the declaration to allow more cars into Gaza was first made. IOF
allowed the entry of only 180 vehicles, which increased the total number of
vehicles allowed into the Gaza Strip to 1,180. As a result, vehicle prices continue to rise and there is a shortage of
spare parts.

· For four years,
IOF have continued to impose a complete ban on the entry of construction
material into Gaza for the private sector. However, they agreed to allow the entry of limited quantities of
construction material for international organizations in Gaza. 26,579 tons of aggregate, 9,988 tons of
cement and 835 tons of construction iron were allowed into Gaza for
international projects in the context of the alleged easing declared by IOF
last June.

· During the
reporting period, IOF have continued to reduce the number of patients allowed
to travel to hospitals in Israel and/or Jerusalem and the West Bank for medical
treatment. The number of patients
allowed to travel via Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing reached 859 in May, an
average of 28 patients daily, which represents 56 percent of the average of
patients that were allowed in the first half of 2006.

· IOF have
continued to impose restrictions on international journalists, diplomats and
employees of international humanitarian organizations in the Gaza Strip. During the reporting period, 81 international
journalists, 113 diplomats and 634 employees of international humanitarian
organizations were allowed to enter Gaza often under complicated measures, resulting
in several days’ delays for many of those allowed to enter.

· The crossing
was closed for 12 days to businesspeople. During the days it was open, 1,131 traders were allowed to travel via
the crossing, i.e. an average of less than 37 traders daily. This is a sharp decline in comparison to the
number of businesspeople who were allowed to travel via the crossing last
March, when there was an average of 42 traders (88 percent) daily. It should be noted that approximately 150
traders daily were allowed to travel via the crossing prior to June 2007.

· For four years,
IOF have prevented the families of approximately 700 Palestinians from Gaza
detained in Israeli jails from visiting their imprisoned relatives without any
clear reason. This violates international humanitarian law.

· During the reporting
period, Rafah International Crossing Point had been open; 8,262 Palestinians
were allowed to travel to Egypt, 8,208 were allowed into the Gaza Strip and
1,282 Palestinians were turned back by the Egyptian authorities according to
the Borders and Crossings Commission. The crossing was closed on Fridays and Saturdays.

· There was a
positive development in late May (28 May 2011) when Egyptian authorities
declared the opening of Rafah International Crossing Point under new
mechanisms. Its operational hours increased, they were open from 09:00 to 17:00
daily, excluding Fridays and official holidays. The following categories are
exempted from applying for entry visas in advance: all Palestinian women;
Palestinian males below the age of 18 and above 40; patients who have medical transfers; students studying in Egypt
or abroad and persons holding residence permits in foreign countries.

· The declared
easing at the border with Egypt includes the movement of persons only and
excludes commercial transactions. Therefore,
this development will alleviate the suffering of civilians but won’t change the
economic situation resulting from the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip. Furthermore, the easing at the border with
Egypt does not exempt the international community from the responsibility of
exerting pressure on Israel to end the siege and apply international law. 

The full report is available here.