The State of Gaza Strip Border Crossings

1 January – 28 February 2007

With the end of the second month in the year 2007, Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) continued to close all border crossings of the Gaza Strip, and have also continued to impose severe restrictions on the movement of Palestinian civilians and goods. Despite some limited passage of food stuffs, medications, and other goods, the closure has had a catastrophic impact on the civilian population, and has violated their economic and social rights. The closure has destroyed the components of the local economy, many of which are completely shut off by restrictions on imports and exports. As a result, the poverty rate is nearly 73% and unemployed hit 55% at times of complete closure.[1] The situation is made worse by the nonpayment of salaries of public employees and security forces for nearly a year. This was the result of the suspension of aid by donor countries to the Palestinian National Authority (PNA) and the freezing of Palestinian tax monies by the Israeli government since March 2006. The closure also impacted all basic needs including fuel, gas, construction materials, and raw production materials for the industrial, agricultural, transportation, and tourism sectors.

The most notable developments regarding the Gaza Strip border crossings during the reporting period can be summed up in the following:

Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing

During the reporting period, this crossing was completely closed for 59 days. And since Friday, 16 February 2007, IOF opened a new crossing in place of the old crossing building, and announced that the crossing is an international crossing. As a result new procedures and regulation were enforced on passage to and from Gaza. These procedures affect Jerusalem residents who do not carry the Israeli ID card, Israeli Arabs, and internationals. Residents of the Gaza Strip and West Bank were not affected, as they still require permits from the Israeli authorities as was the case prior to the new crossing.

Jerusalem residents are now required to deposit their ID cards to the Ministry of Interior in Jerusalem in exchange for receiving permits to visit relatives in Gaza. In the past, they deposited their ID’s at the crossing.

Israeli Arabs are required to deposit their passports in the Israeli Affairs office of the Civil Administration; whereas in the past, they kept possession of their passports.

Internationals are now required to have their valid passports stamped upon entry and exit from Gaza. This stamping was not required in the past. In addition, the old procedures of permission and coordination with the IOF prior to entering Gaza are still in effect.

Procedures governing the entry of Palestinian patients have become more complicated, increasing their waiting time. These procedures include searches of patients, their companions, and the accompanying medical crews.

Other Palestinian sectors like merchants and employees in international organizations continue to be subject to the same procedures as before.

Families of Palestinians detained inside Israel who are permitted to visit are allowed to pass through the crossing according to the visitation schedule coordinated by the ICRC.

Since the opening of the new crossing, IOF only allowed 132 patients, including 32 emergency patients, at a daily average of 17 patients, to pass to hospitals in Israel or the West Bank. It is noted that IOF have reduced the number of patients allowed to enter for security reasons, noting that these patients are in no condition to pose any security threat. In addition, most patients referred outside Gaza are suffering from very serious illnesses such as cancer or require serious treatment such as bone marrow transplant, ophthalmic surgery, or heart surgery; or are children suffering from serious birth defects. The patients allowed to enter are forced to undergo complex procedures requiring them to wait for hours. In addition, they are burdened with additional financial costs in the form of renting an Israeli ambulance after IOF banned Palestinian ambulances from crossing the checkpoint. Five months ago, IOF allowed 50 patients to pass through the crossing; but this number has been gradually reduced.

Al-Mentar (Karni) Crossing:

During the reporting period, this crossing was completely closed for 10 days completely and 7 days partially. On 17 January, the crossing was closed early for alleged security reasons. And on 21 and 22 January, work started late at 14:30 and 11:30 respectively due to a workers’ strike. On 4 February, the crossing opened for 2 hours only. And on 26 February, the crossing worked till 11:00 only due to a strike by Palestinian workers.

During January, a total of 10,526 truckloads crossed into the Gaza Strip with a daily average of 389 truckloads per workday.[2] In February, the rate dropped to 350 truckloads per workday. Although IOF allowed passage of goods, these rates did not meet the needs or compensate the lack in basic commodities. It is noted that the cost of transportation of goods through the crossing increased due to the increased waiting time. The cost of transporting one container rose from 2,000 NIS to 9,000 NIS.

As to exports, a total of 1249 truckloads were exported in January divided as follows: 114 furniture, 67 clothes, 3 electrical equipment, 33.5 floor tiles, 12 biscuits, 14 ice cream, 475 vegetables (3,704 tons), 314 strawberries (667 tons), 62 flowers (6,442 tons), 32 fresh fish, 122.5 other products. The daily export rate for January was 46 truckloads. In February, the daily export rate increased to 75 truckloads. However, these rates were well below the rates stated in the borders agreement allowing the export of 400 truckloads daily with an option to go beyond that in certain produce seasons.

Nahal Ouz Crossing:

This crossing is designed for fuel imports for the Gaza Strip. It has operated below its capacity. During the report period, the crossing was closed for 5 days.[3] The entry of benzene was denied for 23 days and the entry of gasoline was denied for 15 days. During the reporting period, 3,056,000 liters of benzene; 15,221,000 liters of gasoline; and 11,006 tons of gas were entered into the Gaza Strip. These amounts did not meet the actual needs of the Gaza Strip; and a shortage of gas was registered due to the increased use during winter months.

Sofa Crossing:

During the reported period, this crossing, which is designed for the entry of raw construction materials, was completely closed for 15 days,[4] whereas it was partially operated for 44 days. During the reporting period, 277,365 tons of aggregate and construction materials were allowed into the Gaza Strip. In addition, 1,007 truckloads of miscellaneous goods were allowed to enter.

Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) Commercial Crossing:

During the reporting period, the crossing was partially reopened for 12 days, allowing the entry of 3,910 tons of flour, which were Egyptian assistance to the Palestinian people through World Food Programme. IOF also allowed of 18 military vehicles and 20 truckloads of equipment (generators, beds, mobile toilets, and blankets) as assistance to Palestinian security forces.

Rafah International Crossing Point:

During the reporting period, the crossing point was completely closed for 46 days, and was partially opened for 13 days.[5] These 13 days were divided as follows: 10 for travelers going in and out of Gaza and 3 days only for returnees. Thus, the crossing point has been closed for 198 days completely and 44 days partially since 25 June 2006. 

Table of Days of Operation of Rafah International Crossing Point

1 March – 30 April 2007

As a result of the repeated closure of the crossing point, thousands of Palestinian civilians wishing to travel from and to the Gaza Strip have been blocked at both sides of the crossing point. When the crossing point is opened, it witnesses congestion due to the high number of travelers. Palestinian travelers, especially patients, face extreme difficulties passing through the crossing point and they have to wait for long periods.  

Thousands of travelers are held on both sides of the border, many of them were held under extremely harsh conditions. Travelers on the Egyptian side wanting to return to Gaza are deprived of the most basic needs, especially women, children, elderly, and patients. Gaza residents wanting to travel, especially expatriate families on visits to Gaza, are threatened of losing their residence permits and work in host countries. In addition, hundreds of cancer patients are waiting for the crossing to open to seek treatment in Egyptian hospitals. Furthermore, hundreds of students studying abroad are threatened of losing their spots at universities abroad.

In light of the above:

1)       PCHR asserts that the closure imposed by IOF constitutes a form of collective punishment and retaliation against the Palestinian civilian population in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

2)       The closure violates international humanitarian law, particularly the Fourth Geneva Convention, and international human rights law, particularly the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

3)       The policy of closure leaves disastrous impacts on all aspects of life in the OPT, and causes further deterioration in economic and social conditions.

PCHR reiterates its call for the international community, including the High Contracting Parties to the Fourth Geneva Convention, to take effective steps to pressure Israel to stop collective punishment and lift the siege imposed on the OPT and force it to comply with its obligations under the international law. 

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Palestinian Centre for Human Rights

29 Omer El Mukhtar St., El Remal, PO Box 1328 Gaza, Gaza Strip tel/fax: +972 (0)8 282 4776 – 282 5893

email: pchr@pchrgaza.org      website: www.pchrgaza.org