April 1, 2012
The Buffer Zone in the Gaza Strip
The Buffer Zone in the Gaza Strip

PCHR Fact Sheet                                                                                              March
2011

 

 

The
so-called “buffer zone” is a military no-go area that extends along the entire
northern and eastern perimeter of the Gaza Strip’s border with Israel, inside
Palestinian territory, as well as at sea. The precise areas designated by
Israel as “buffer zone” are unknown; changing Israeli policy is typically
enforced with live fire.

 

Dimensions

 

On land: inside Palestinian
territory

· Oslo Accords: 50 meters

· Second Intifada (2000): 150 metres

· January 2010, according to Israel: 300 metres

· In reality: 300 metres 2 kilometres

At sea: area off coast for
Palestinian fishing

· Oslo Accords: 20 nautical miles

· Bertini Commitment (2002): 12 nautical miles

· October 2006: 6 nautical miles

· Since June 2007: 3 nautical miles

 

Impact

 

On Land

· Approximately 27, 000 dunums of land can only be accessed
under high personal risk, as Israeli attacks may result in injury or death of
civilians.

· Approximately 30% of Gaza’s agricultural land cannot be
worked without severe personal risk, causing the loss of livelihoods.

At Sea

· The fishing industry is severely impacted, as it supports the
families of over 3, 600 fishermen who expose themselves to high risk
every day at sea.

· The area near the coast is markedly over-fished.

 

 



Attacks in the buffer zone

Attacks in the buffer zone in April 2012

Persons Killed

Persons Wounded

Persons Arrested

Property (houses and
establishments) destroyed

2

6

12 fishermen

5

 

Classification of attacks in the buffer zone in April 2012

Incursions

Bombardments

Firing

Pamphlet dropping  

Violations against fishermen

Total of attacks

9

4

9

2

8

32

 

Description

Persons Killed

Persons Wounded

Persons Arrested

Property (houses and establishments) destroyed

Incursions

0

0

0

0

Bombardments

2

3

0

0

Firing

0

3

0

3

Incidents caused by army remnants

0

0

0

0

Violations against fishermen

0

0

11

2

Total of attacks

2

6

11

5

 

Note: In
violations against fishermen, more than one fisherman can be wounded or
arrested in each violation.