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Press release

Urgent appeal for international intervention to lift Israeli siege on al-Mawasi in the southern Gaza strip

Date:    13 March 2002

Ref:      36/2002

PCHR is deeply concerned that Israeli occupying forces are taking advantage of the international focus on its attacks on Palestinian refugee camps in order to carry out large-scale land destruction and confiscation in the al-Mawasi area in the southern Gaza strip.  PCHR calls upon the international community to immediately intervene to ensure that Israel lifts the suffocating siege and curfew imposed on the al-Mawasi area in the southern Gaza strip to prevent a humanitarian disaster and to ensure that the lives and properties of al-Mawasi residents are respected in accordance with international humanitarian law.

According to a number of farmers in al-Mawasi, Israeli occupying forces recently razed large parts of an area of agricultural land 3km long and 100-150m wide, to the west of the main road of Gush Katif settlement bloc in the Tel Jinan/Tel Ridan area of al-Mawasi.  In addition, Israeli occupying forces attacked and searched a number of houses.  According to preliminary data relayed by the owners of the destroyed land, Israeli bulldozers razed approximately 139 donums of agricultural land, including 90 donums of potato fields, 20 donums of guavas, and 20 donums of citrus trees (1 donum is 1000 square meters).  In addition, palm, olive, and avocado trees were also destroyed.  There was also widespread damage to irrigation networks and water pools.

Al-Mawasi is a coastal agricultural area on the southern part of the Gaza coast, between Khan Yunis and Rafah, and is home to approximately 8,000 Palestinians, mostly farmers and fishermen.  Under the Oslo accords, al-Mawasi, which is located on the edge of a bloc of Israeli settlements built on occupied land in contravention of international humanitarian law, is under complete Israeli military control.  Since 8 March 2002, al-Mawasi has been under a complete curfew imposed by the Israeli army.  Residents have been unable to leave their homes to work, go to school, seek medical care, or visit other areas of the Gaza strip.  Israeli military orders imposing a curfew on al-Mawasi appear to be for the benefit of Israeli settlers living nearby, who are confiscating Palestinian land for future settlements.

Even before the curfew orders, al-Mawasi was under a near-complete siege and closure since the outbreak of the al-Aqsa Intifada in September 2000.  Residents could only enter and exit the area through two checkpoints, and only during limited hours of the day.  Non-residents, including human rights workers and even emergency medical crews, are prohibited from entering.  Automobiles are not allowed to enter or exit the area, and non-residents are completely forbidden from entering.  Due to delays and searches at checkpoints, a 5km journey from the centre of al-Mawasi to the outside before the curfew could take two to five hours.  Several checkpoints within the area further restrict Palestinian movement, while local residents remain vulnerable to vigilante attacks by Israeli settlers under the protection of Israeli occupying forces.

Furthermore, Israeli occupying forces have issued al-Mawasi residents with special identification numbers; at least 2,000 Palestinians who work as farmers or fishermen in the area have not been issued these numbers and have been thus deprived of their livelihoods.

PCHR calls upon the international community to take immediate steps to ensure that Israeli occupying forces respect international humanitarian law lift the curfew and siege imposed on al-Mawasi.  PCHR notes that the siege imposed on the area, severing access even to humanitarian aid and services, amounts to collective punishment in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention.  PCHR reminds the international community that the Fourth Geneva Convention places a legal responsibility upon all High Contracting Parties to ensure that Israel respects the Convention throughout the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

PCHR also urges the member states of the United Nations, as well as its specialised agencies and the International Committee of the Red Cross, to deliver urgent medical and food assistance to the people of al-Mawasi and to ensure that Israeli occupying forces do not hinder access to this aid.