Tightening the Siege:

The Gaza Strip Border Crossings 11 December 2007 – 9 January 2008

 

 

This report coincides with a New Year that has already witnessed additional punitive Israeli restrictions and measures of collective punishment being imposed on Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip.

These measures are a continuation of the unprecedented measures taken by Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) during 2007, in order to tighten the siege of the Gaza Strip and seal all border crossings into and out of Gaza. Rafah International Crossing Point, the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, and the only crossing from the Gaza Strip to a country other than Israel, was completely closed for 308 days during 2007. Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing was closed for civilian workers and traffic throughout 2007, with only specific categories of individuals permitted to access the crossing. As a result, severe movement restrictions were placed on the civilian population of the Gaza Strip, isolating them from the West Bank and the rest of the world.

The main commercial crossing of the Gaza Strip, Al-Mentar (Karni) Crossing was completely closed for 121 days during 2007, and partially closed for another 56 days. Nahal Oz Crossing, which is used to transport fuel, was completely closed for 92 days. Sofa Crossing, which is used to facilitate the entry of construction materials, was closed for 300 days of the year, although it was partially re-opened for humanitarian assistance due to the closure of Al-Mentar Crossing. Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) Crossing was completely closed for 186 days. These unprecedented closures resulted in serious deterioration of all aspects of civilian life in the Gaza Strip.  

This hermetic closure of the entire Gaza Strip continued throughout the reporting period (11 December 2007- 9 January 2008), and included a total ban on Palestinians traveling through Rafah and Beit Hanoun crossings. During the reporting period, the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) documented the death of four patients, including a woman and two children, who died as a direct result of having been denied access to health care facilities outside the Gaza Strip. This brings the total number of patients who have died as a result of having been denied access to hospitals in Israel or the West Bank to 21.  

During the past three months, more than 1,500 civilians from the Gaza Strip, including hundreds of patients waiting to return to their homes in Gaza, have been stranded in the Egyptian cities of Rafah and Al-Arish. In addition, approximately 6,000 Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip have been waiting for permission to leave since June 2007, mainly patients requiring medical treatment outside of Gaza and students wishing to pursue their studies abroad. The Pilgrims who left Gaza at the beginning of December in order to make their Hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia also faced a week-long ordeal before being allowed to return home.  

Throughout the reporting period, the commercial borders of the Gaza Strip, especially Al-Mentar Crossing, remained closed for imports and exports, including necessities such as food and medicine. In addition, a near complete ban on exports from Gaza remains in place. The only exceptions to date have been the export of some flowers and strawberries through Karm Abu Salem Crossing. The permitted exports amounted to approximately 20%, or one fifth, of the strawberries and flowers produced in Gaza for export. 

During the reporting period, the Israeli Occupying Forces (IOF) reduced the supply of natural gas for domestic use in the Gaza Strip. Supplies subsequently ran out in refill depots, causing shortages in homes and increasing the local price of natural gas.  

The increasing economic and social strangulation of the Gaza Strip has effectively turned the territory into a prison inhabited by more than 1.5 million Palestinians. The civilian population of the Gaza Strip lives under severe movement restrictions, lacking basic humanitarian needs, including access to certain foods, medicine, and other basic necessities. In addition, the civilian population of the Gaza Strip is being systematically denied their industrial, agricultural, construction, transportation and fuel needs. The collective punishment of the civilian population of Gaza has caused a chronic deterioration in all aspects of civilian life, and is decimating the livelihoods of the people of Gaza.  

 

Gaza Strip Border Crossings: Significant Developments  

 

Civilian Crossings:

Rafah International Crossing Point and Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing both remained closed during the 30 day reporting period. Rafah International Crossing Point was completely closed for 29 days, and partially opened for one day. Beit Hanoun Crossing was closed for the entire 30 day reporting period.

As a result of these closures, Rafah International Crossing Point was closed for a total of 308 days during 2007. Beit Hanoun Crossings was closed for all 365 days of the year. Therefore, the civilian population of the Gaza Strip was denied the right to travel to the West Bank, including occupied East Jerusalem, as well as travel to Jordan via El-Karama Bridge. PCHR notes that the IOF allowed specific groups and individuals to exit the Gaza Strip, via Beit Hanoun, and travel to the Palestinian West Bank and Israel: these specific groups and individuals included diplomats, workers in international organizations, some business people, and a small number of Palestinian patients. PCHR also notes that, stating reasons of security, the IOF refused to permit approximately 150 out of almost 800 Palestinian Muslim pilgrims from accessing Beit Hanoun Crossing in order to travel to Jordan. The IOF did permit approximately 520 Christians from Gaza to travel to Bethlehem, via Beit Hanoun Crossing, during the reporting period.

 

Rafah International Crossing Point:

–         Since June 2007, Rafah International Crossing Point has been completely closed for 185 days.

–         During the reporting period Rafah Crossing was completely closed for 29 days. It was partially opened for one day, to allow pilgrims to return to the Gaza Strip from Saudi Arabia.

–         The most high profile issue at Rafah International Crossing Point during the reporting period was the week-long ban on Gaza pilgrims returning home after their Hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. The humanitarian situation became extremely serious as the pilgrims were held on ferries off the coast of the Egyptian port of Nuwebe’e, without the minimum basic needs of food, water, medicine, and accommodation, before being housed in tents in the Egyptian city of Al-Arish. PCHR notes that the pilgrims left the Gaza Strip on 3 and 4 December 2007, via Rafah International Crossing Point. On their return, the pilgrims were held without notice on the ferries that transported them from the Jordanian port of Aqaba to Nuwebe’e. The pilgrims were informed they could disembark only if they sign letters stating that they agreed to return to the Gaza Strip via the Israeli-controlled Karm Abu Salem Crossing. On 29 December, 2007, the Egyptian authorities allowed the pilgrims to enter Nuweb’e port without having signed the letters. From Nuweb’e they were taken to temporary tents dwellings in Al-Arish. Several pilgrims complained about severe shortages of water, food, and medicine whilst on the ferries. When the Egyptian authorities opened Rafah International Crossing Point at 14:00 on 2 January 2008, all of the pilgrims were permitted to return to the Gaza Strip. In addition, 350 Palestinian travelers who had been stranded in Egypt, including 23 Palestinians who had been detained at Al-Arish airport, were also permitted to return to Gaza.

–         Two pilgrims died whilst in the Al-Arish temporary tent dwellings. Since the closure of Rafah International Crossing Point, 24 Palestinian travelers have died in Egypt, including ten women and a child.  

o       At approximately 12:00 on 31 December 2007, Khadra Mahmoud Mohammad Mas’oud (68) a pilgrim from Jabaliya refugee camp, died at Al-Arish hospital. As a result of IOF obstruction, it took three days for her body to be transferred to the Gaza Strip.  

o       On 2 January 2008, Mariam Mohammad Abd El-Hadi Odwan (61), a pilgrim from Beit Hanoun, died in a tent in Al-Arish. She had suffered a stroke and had returned to the tent after being treated at Al-Arish hospital. The transfer of her body to the Gaza Strip was also obstructed by the IOF for several days.  

–         During the past three months more than 1,500 civilians from the Gaza Strip, including many patients waiting to return home to Gaza, have been stranded in the Egyptian cities of Rafah and Al-Arish. The vast majority of them left the Gaza Strip for medical treatment, or in order to study or work abroad. Many of the patients who underwent surgery in Egypt have now completely run out of funds due to the exacerbated delay in returning home to Gaza. These patients continue to face risks to their lives and well-being as they are unable to meet their basic needs of food, medicine, and secure accommodation.  

–         Since June 2007, approximately 6,000 Palestinian civilians have been waiting for permission to travel outside the Gaza Strip. This number includes approximately 2,000 students who wish to continue studying abroad, and 500 patients requiring urgent medical treatment outside the Gaza Strip. Palestinian expatriates working in other countries are also waiting to leave the Gaza Strip, and meanwhile face the risk of losing their work in their countries of residence, as well as losing their residence permits.  

 

Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing:

–         IOF continued to close Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing throughout the reporting period, although Beit Hanoun was partially opened for 7 days, in order to allow two groups of Muslim pilgrims to travel via Jordan to Saudi Arabia for the Hajj, and to allow Gaza Christians to travel to Bethlehem for Christmas.

–         On 16 and 17 December, 2007, IOF allowed approximately 700 pilgrims to travel through the Crossing and on to Jordan and then Saudi Arabia. However, IOF prevented approximately 150 other pilgrims from passing through the Crossing, claiming security reasons.   

–         On 30 December, 2007, IOF allowed the 700 pilgrims to return to the Gaza Strip via Beit Hanoun Crossing. The pilgrims arrived in two groups, and were subjected to complicated search and security procedures. At approximately 16:00, the first group arrived at the crossing; and by the time the second group arrived, at 20:00, the crossing was completely congested. At approximately 22:00, the families of the arriving pilgrims moved towards the crossing to greet the returnees. IOF soldiers fired at the approaching civilians, and at the pilgrims. Khaldia Ahmad Hamdan El-Tilbani (33) was killed by an IOF bullet to the head. Her husband, F’reij El-Tilbani was injured by a bullet in his neck. PCHR investigations indicate the couple were both from the second group of pilgrims, and were shot whilst attempting to collect their luggage.

–         Between 24-31 December, 2007, IOF allowed 520 Christians from the Gaza Strip to travel to Bethlehem in the West Bank, to celebrate Christmas.  

–         PCHR notes that IOF closed Beit Hanoun Crossing completely for Palestinian workers and civilians throughout 2007.

–         During the reporting period, IOF allowed diplomatic missions and workers from international organizations to travel in and out of the Gaza Strip via Beit Hanoun Crossing.

–         IOF allowed 20 businessmen and women to travel through the Crossing during the reporting period.

–         However, for the seventh consecutive month, IOF prevented families of prisoners from the Gaza Strip who are incarcerated in Israeli jails from visiting them. PCHR notes that the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) coordinates these visits, and that the visitation arrangement was functional till June 2007.

 

Health Consequences of the Beit Hanoun (Erez) Closure

–         During the reporting period, IOF hindered the passage of dozens of patients through the Crossing, including those seeking urgent medical treatment. In addition, IOF banned hundreds of other patients from any access to healthcare facilities in Israel and the West Bank, by refusing to issue permits for them to travel outside of Gaza. As a result, a limited number of patients passed through the Beit Hanoun Crossing, averaging approximately twenty patients per day. PCHR notes that patients applying for passage through Beit Hanoun Crossing suffer from serious illnesses that cannot be treated in Gaza hospitals. In addition, they are unable to access Egyptian hospitals due to the closure of Rafah International Crossing Point.

–         IOF closed the Crossing completely for patients for 3 days during the reporting period. These closures took place on 15 and 29 December 2007, and 5 January 2008.

–         IOF rejected permits for 17.1% of applicants (172 out of 1005) stating security reasons. In addition, 159 patients are still awaiting replies to their permit applications, constituting 15.8% of total applications. Thus, 331 patients (32.9% of all patients) are at risk of their health deteriorating due to IOF security restrictions, or the delay in securing a permit to travel.

–         IOF allowed several Palestinian ambulances to enter the Crossing and transfer seriously ill patients to Israeli ambulances. PCHR notes that IOF have banned Palestinian ambulances from transporting Palestinian patients to hospitals in the West Bank and Israel.

–         During the reporting period, PCHR documented the death of 4 patients, including a woman and 2 children, as a result of IOF refusal to issue permits, or delays in the issuing of permits. In total, 21 patients died in 2007 as a direct result of being denied access through Beit Hanoun Crossing in order to reach appropriate health care facilities in Israel or the West Bank, including 6 women and 5 children. During the reporting period the following patients died:  

1.      On 14 December, Hala Rawhi Mahmoud Zannoun (age 5 months) from Rafah died as a result of a hearth condition that cannot be treated in Gaza. Physicians had requested that she be transferred for treatment outside of Gaza. According to the child’s father, the Palestinian External Referral Department at the Ministry of Health (MOH) received confirmation that Shiba Hospital in Israel would treat Hala on 26 December. However, the child died two weeks before the appointment due to a serious deterioration in her health.

2.      On 17 December, Amal Yunis Abu Banat (36) from northern Gaza died after a serious deterioration in her health. Her husband, Ala El-Deen, stated his wife’s condition deteriorated from 8 December. She was taken to Kamal Odwan Hospital, where doctors stated she needed to be referred to a hospital outside of the Gaza Strip. She received referral permission two weeks prior to her death, and was waiting for the Israeli hospital to set an appointment date. She died before the appointment was confirmed.   

3.      On 20 December, Ala Anwar Hirz’Allah (26) from Gaza City died as a result of the IOF refusing to allow him to access Beit Hanoun Crossing in order to travel to Jordan for medical treatment. He was suffering a serious head injury sustained during the internal clashes of June 2007. He had originally been treated in Jordan, but after returning to the Gaza Strip required further treatment in Jordan. IOF refused him permission to leave the Gaza Strip via Beit Hanoun Crossing, and the closure of Rafah International Crossing Point meant he could not leave the Gaza Strip at all. His condition deteriorated further, and he died.

4.      Yusef Eyad Abu Mariam (5) from northern Gaza died On 23 December. He was suffering from cancer and had been referred to an Israeli hospital on 11 October, 2007. However subsequent delays in coordinating transport resulted in his treatment being seriously delayed, with fatal consequences.   

 

 

Commercial Crossings:

IOF continued to ban exports from leaving Gaza during the reporting period, with the exception of limited quantities of flowers and strawberries that were exported via Karm Abu Salem Crossing. In addition, IOF allowed minimal imports to enter Gaza, which were limited to the most essential basic needs.

 

Al-Mentar (Karni) Crossing:

–         The Crossing was closed completely for imports and exports for 23 days. It was closed partially for 7 days. Exports were completely banned through the Crossings. Only limited amounts of flour and fodder were allowed to enter Gaza.

–         Throughout 2007, the Crossing was closed completely for 121 days, and partially for 56 days.

–         The Crossing has been effectively closed since 13 June 2007; however, it was partially opened for a limited number of days to allow imports of flour and animal fodder.

–         The continuous closure of the Crossing for such an extended time has resulted in a near paralysis in civilian life, and a humanitarian crisis across the Gaza Strip.

–         The reduction in imports has resulted in severe shortages of food products, medical supplies, and medication. In addition, the closure has reduced production in all industrial sectors, with an estimated 70% reduction in private sector production. Below is a table of the amounts of flour and animal fodder allowed to enter Gaza during the reporting period:

 

 

Sofa Crossing:

–         The Crossing was closed completely for 15 days and partially for 15 days. IOF allowed a limited number of livestock, food products, and fruit for local traders, as well as flour for the United Nations Works and Relief Agency (UNWRA) to pass through the Crossing.

–         IOF continued to prevent the entry of aggregate and construction materials into the Gaza Strip, raising the total number of closure days for these materials to 300 days during 2007.

–         Since 15 June 2007, IOF has enforced a complete ban on imports of construction materials into the Gaza Strip. Since that date, IOF have permitted 1,900 heads of livestock and 646 truckloads of food and fruit to enter as supplies for local merchants. In addition, IOF have allowed 29 truckloads of flour to enter for UNRWA supplies.

–         Since 18 December, 2007, IOF have banned the entry of livestock into the Gaza Strip. As a result, there is a shortage of fresh meat in Gaza markets. Market prices have soared from 30 NIS to 60 NIS per kilogram, and slaughterhouse prices have risen from 25 to 35 NIS. Prices are expected to continue to rise as a result of chronic shortages. PCHR notes that Gaza Strip consumption of meat currently stands at approximately 3,000 heads of livestock per month. 

–         The ban on construction material imports has paralyzed construction and housing projects across the Gaza Strip. As a result, thousands of construction workers have lost their jobs, increasing the unemployment rate, which stood at 40% before the tightening of the closure.

 

Nahal Oz Crossing:

–         The Crossing operated below capacity during the reporting period. In addition, it was closed for 6 days.

–         During 2007, the Crossing was closed for 92 days.

–         The daily fuel needs of the population of the Gaza Strip are 350,000 litres of gasoline, 120,000 litres of benzene, and 350 tons of natural gas. During the reporting period, IOF allowed limited amounts of fuel into the Strip, averaging 250,000 liters of gasoline, 70,000 liters of benzene, and 75 tons of natural gas. In addition, IOF allowed the passage of a daily average of 350,000 liters of industrial fuel for the Gaza power plant.

–         The reduction of natural gas supplies during the reporting period created a severe shortage. Local gas distributors were forced to shut down on 29 and 30 December 2007.

 

Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) Commercial Crossing:

–         During the reporting period, the Crossing was completely closed for 7 days, and partially opened for 23 days, in order to allow the passage of limited amounts of food and medication.

–         IOF allowed the entry of 820 truckloads of so-called ‘humanitarian’ materials, including dairy products, frozen meat, other food products, and medication. In addition, IOF allowed the entry of humanitarian assistance in the form of food products donated to the World Food Programme (WFP) through the Egyptian Red Crescent Society.

–         IOF allowed the export of limited amounts of agricultural produce, 4 truckloads of strawberries and 35 truckloads of flowers, all bound for European markets.

–         Strawberry farmers have been forced to halt exports as a result of losses they have suffered due to IOF export restrictions. The Gaza Agricultural Association estimates that farmers in the Gaza Strip produce 30-40 tons of strawberries a day during the strawberry season. This quantity is much higher than the permitted exported quantity, and strawberry farmers have subsequently suffered heavy losses. These losses have been estimated at $US 15 millions. Just over half this amount, $ 8 million, is the estimated cost to farmers of planting and cultivating 2,700 donums of strawberries.

–         IOF continue to pressure Palestinian authorities in the Gaza Strip to use the Karm Abu Salem Crossing as an alternative to Al-Mentar Crossing. PCHR notes that the Karm Abu Salem Crossing is not equipped for commercial use, and that both imported and exported goods are at risk of deterioration due to conditions at the Crossing. In addition to the lack of essential commercial facilities, the Karm Abu Salem Crossing does not have the capacity to process 450 trucks a day, which is the daily commercial traffic requirement for the Gaza Strip.