The State of Gaza Strip Border Crossings

1 April - 7 May 2008

Summary

The closure imposed on the Gaza Strip crossings continued, and life was extremely difficult in cities, villages and refugee camps across the Gaza Strip. 1.5m Palestinian civilians continue to suffer violations of their rights to free movement as well as their rights to access basic education and health facilities and other vital services. The continued reduction of fuel supplies to the Gaza Strip caused further deterioration in standards of living for civilians who are already facing serious difficulties in accessing some food and medical supplies as well as restricted access to transport services. Factories were forced to cease production and local authorities were unable to deliver public cleaning services, or sometimes even deliver safe drinking water, or treat waste water.

During the reporting period, the most significant effects of the closure and continuing reduction of fuel supplies to the Gaza Strip were as follows:

·        Gaza Strip cities, villages and camps were in a state of near paralysis with streets almost devoid of normal movement and life.

·        UNRWA was forced to stop all its humanitarian aid food distribution programs targeting some 650,000 refugees in the Gaza Strip for four days. The agency suffered fuel deficiencies throughout the reporting period.

·        Living standards continued to deteriorate due to siege and scarcity of foodstuffs and medicines, resulting in serious price increases.

·        Hundreds of citizens remained deprived from their right to access treatment in hospitals outside the Gaza Strip

·        The work of educational facilities, including schools, institutes, and universities, were reduced due to the paralysis of the transport sector. In addition, student absences increased due to fuel shortages.

·        85% of public transport was forced to close due to fuel shortages. 

·        15 drinking water wells were closed, causing shortages of water for more than  100,000 people across Gaza.

·        In addition, the operation of a further 125 water reservoirs was affected.

·        12 wastewater treatment plants completely ran out of fuel, and daily dumping of 50,000 m³ of untreated water into the sea continued.

·        The risks of environmental crisis increased as garbage dumpsters belonging to local municipalities and councils were forced to cease working, and UNRWA was also forced to reduce its cleaning services in the refugee camps.

·        85% of vehicles belonging to the Coastal Municipalities Water Utility (CMWU) were taken off the road. This hindered the delivery of drinking water to citizens, plus the treatment of wastewater, and maintenance of public networks.

Seeking to impose further collective punishment on civilians in the Gaza Strip, the IOF continued its closure policy during the reporting period. In line with this, the IOF tightened the stifling siege on the Gaza Strip, continuing to affect every aspect of civilian life, including supplies of food and medicine, fuel supplies, construction materials, and the raw materials required for various economic sectors. The IOF also continued to prevent exports leaving Gaza, whilst shortages of good inside the Gaza Strip led to unprecedented price increases. Poverty and unemployment rates are currently estimated at 80% and 55% respectively.

During the reporting period, the single most significant problem was the chronic fuel shortages which led to the closure of all gas stations in the Gaza Strip. As a result, public transport was paralysed, whilst health services, including environmental health services, were seriously affected. Provisions of safe drinking water were also seriously affected. 

In addition, severe restrictions continued to be imposed on civilian movements to and from the Gaza Strip. Rafah International Crossing Point crossing remained closed throughout the 37-day reporting period, while a few civilians were permitted to travel via Beit Hanoun (Erez) Crossing. Civilians in the Gaza Strip remained isolated from the external world including the West Bank, occupied East Jerusalem, and abroad.

Conditions at the Gaza Strip commercial crossings also deteriorated. Al-Mentar (Karni) crossing, the Gaza Strip’s main commercial crossing, remained completely closed for 29 days and was partially opened for 8 days in order to allow the delivery of some food items only. Nahal Oz Crossing remained closed for 33 days for fuel supplies (diesel and benzene) and was partially opened for 19 days to allow the delivery of limited quantities of industrial fuel for the Gaza Strip power station. Sofa Crossing remained completely closed throughout the 37-day reporting period for aggregate and construction materials, but was opened a few hours per day for 25 days in order to allow the delivery of some humanitarian aid. Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing remained completely closed for 21 days and was partially opened for 16 days to allow the delivery of humanitarian aid. 

This briefing highlights the impact of the severe siege and crossings closure on civilian life in the Gaza Strip, especially the impact on families of Palestinian prisoners held in Israeli jails, who continue to be denied their rights to visit their husbands, sons and daughters in jail in Israel.

Civilian Crossings

Beit Hanoun (Erez) and Rafah International Crossing Point were subjected to closure throughout the 37-day reporting period. Since 10 June, 2007 Beit Hanoun has been closed for 331 days, and Rafah Crossing has been closed for 334 days. During the reporting period, the IOF permitted a limited number of civilians, including members of diplomatic missions, international staff, and some patients, to travel to Israel and the West Bank via Beit Hanoun Crossing. However, they were all subjected to rigorous security procedures.

Rafah International Crossing Point:

·           The Crossing was closed throughout the 37-day reporting period. Since 10 June, 2007 the crossing has been closed for 331 days. 

·           On 1 April, 300 Egyptian civilians stranded in the Gaza strip since the breach of the border in January 2008 were finally allowed to leave the Gaza Strip. On the same day, approximately 15 Palestinian patients returned to the Gaza strip after receiving medical treatment in Egypt. 

·           On 6 April, the Egyptian authorities returned the body of Abdul Karim Juma'a Shallouf, aged 22, one day after his death in Al-Arish hospital. He had been treated after being rescued from a collapsed tunnel under the Gaza-Egyptian border on 30 March and died of his injuries on 5 April.

·           On 14 April, the Egyptian authorities allowed about 20 patients, some of whom had been seriously injured by the IOF, to travel to Egypt to receive treatment in Egyptian hospitals.

·           On 17 April, the Egyptian authorities returned the bodies of two Palestinian civilians who died in Egyptian hospitals. Abdullah Mahmoud Suleiman, aged 22, and Mohammed Noor Al-Mtawwak, aged 20, were both transferred to Al-Arish hospital on 16 April, for urgent medical treatment. They died of their injuries and their bodies were returned to the Gaza Strip via Rafah Crossing,

·           On 19 April, the Egyptian authorities allowed approximately 30 patients who had been receiving treatment in Egyptian hospitals to return to the Gaza Strip.

·           On 19 April, the Egyptian authorities returned the body of Fullah Suleiman Abu Daqqa, age 60, who had died in Egypt after receiving cancer treatment.  

·           On 26 April, the Egyptian authorities allowed 6 Palestinian patients who were receiving treatment in Egyptian hospitals to return to the Gaza Strip. 

·           On 1 May, the Egyptian authorities allowed a further 6 Palestinian patients to return to Gaza after medical treatment in Egypt. 

·           On 3 May, the Egyptian authorities allowed 6 Palestinian civilians to enter Egypt after special coordination had been arranged. 

·           On 4 May, the Egyptian authorities allowed Marvan Kheil, aged 19, to enter Egypt for medical treatment. 

·           On 5 May, 5 Palestinian patients who were receiving treatment in Egyptian hospitals returned to Gaza. On the same day, 2 Palestinian patients crossed over to Egypt to access medical treatment.  

·           Hundreds of Gaza Strip citizens remain stranded in Gaza having applied to leave in order to work or study or access medical treatment abroad. This includes 500 students enrolled in international universities and at least 350 patients. 

 Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing:

·           Closure and movement restrictions continued to be imposed on Beit Hanoun Crossing throughout the 37-day reporting period, with limited exceptions for international staff and diplomats and critically ill patients.

·           The Crossing was completely closed from 19-29 April for Jewish holidays.

·           Since 17 January, 2008, the IOF has prevented Palestinian civilians working in international organizations and the limited number of Palestinian traders allowed to enter Israel from accessing Beit Hanoun Crossing.

Prisoners' Rights:

Palestinian Prisoners Day, 17 April, 2008 also marked ten months since civilians from the Gaza Strip have been allowed to visit their relatives imprisoned in jail in Israel.

There are some 950 Gazans in jail in Israel, including four women. Dozens are held in solitary confinement. The Gaza family visits program was facilitated by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) which has been facilitating Palestinian families to visit jailed relatives held in Israel since 1967. The entire family visits program has been subjected to consistent and serious obstructions by the IOF, and in June 2007 the Gaza component of the program was suspected by the IOF on the grounds of security and lack of a coordination partner. PCHR notes that 150 out of the Gaza Strip 900 prisoners had already been deprived of all visitation rights prior to the program being suspended. In addition, only ’Category 1’ visitors are allowed to visit their relatives in jail in Israel. This includes parents and siblings below the age of sixteen. However, many immediate family members fall outside this category. 

Latifa Al-Kurd, age 70, is the mother of Tha'er Al-Kurd, age 37, who has been in prison in Israel for twenty years, and has another 25 years to serve. Mrs. Al-Kurd spoke to a PCHR fieldworker: 

" I used to visit my  son, who is imprisoned in Nafha prison in Israel, twice a month. This was between 1988, the year he was arrested, and last June [2007]. His father stopped visiting him before this time because of his own health, and the restrictions imposed on us as prisoners' families. Since the clashes on June 15, 2007, I have not seen my son. The Israelis have suspended the program that was supervised by the ICRC and I have lost all contact with my son. We can’t afford to send him money for his food because we are suffering extreme poverty ourselves. Being deprived of visiting my son has been terrible, particularly because I am the only one who was allowed to visit him regularly" 

Salma Al-Bis, age 49, has 13 children. One of her daughters, 29 year old Wafa'a Al-Bis, is in prison in Israel. She also spoke to a PCHR field worker.

"My daughter was arrested on June 20, 2005 at Beit Hanoun crossing. She was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment. Since she was arrested, none of my family has been allowed to visit her.  The Israeli authorities have denied us permits.  We used to contact her via the lawyer. But once the trial proceedings ended, we lost contact with her. Now we have no news at all about her."

Shehda Eid Ayiad Al-Bahri, age 55, is the father of two prisoners: 31 year old Tayseer, who was arrested in 2001 and is now serving twelve years in jail in Israel, and 27 year old Bashir, who was arrested in 2004 and is serving four year in jail in Israel. He told a PCHR fieldworker: 

" I have been prevented from visiting my sons in jail since 2004. My wife is allowed to visit only my eldest son, who is imprisoned in Nafha jail. The Israelis authorities only allow Tayseer’s wife to visit him on occasion. Tayseer got married only a short period before he was arrested. No-one has been allowed to visit him since-June 2007. Since then we have had no direct contact with him at all.  

Asef Oweida Kullab, age 20, is the son of Oweida Kullab who was arrested on October 12, 1988 and sentenced to life imprisonment.

“I have not seen my father, who is imprisoned in Beer-Sheva prison, since I was a child. When I got married he couldn’t be there. Just two years after he was arrested, my father’s health started to deteriorate due to the torture and harassment he was exposed to by the Israelis. In the early 1990s, the ICRC told us my father was suffering from a mental illness and he was being held in a solitary confinement cell. The Israeli jailers insist that my father is sane and aware of his actions and he is only pretending to be sick. In 1993, we were allowed to visit my father, but he did not come to see us because of his deteriorated health. In 2005 and 2006, I submitted several applications for a permit to visit my father; but the applications were rejected without any reason. When I got married last week, I was very sad because my father was not with us to share my joy. We used to receive news about my father from prisoners' families who were allowed to visit their relatives in the same jail, and also from some released prisoners. These people told us that my father's health was getting worse. I am very worried about my father's health mainly as I have heard no news about him and no-one has been allowed to see the prisoners now for more than ten months."

Imad Jamil Abu Ghaben, age 34, is the brother of Jihad Abu Ghaben, age 38, who has served 20 years in jail in Israel and has eighteen to serve. 

" My mother and some of my family used to periodically visit my brother ever since he was arrested in 1988. When the Second Intifada broke out, only my father and mother were allowed to visit him. Two years ago, my father was also prevented from visiting Jihad, and my mother had to deal with a lot of difficulties in order to continue visiting him in jail. On March 27, 2007, I was allowed to visit Jihad and I was allowed to take my little daughter with me.. We were humiliated by the Israelis who exposed us to police dogs and to rigorous inspections that lasted for hours. We have been prevented from seeing him for more than a year now, and we only receive news about him from prisoner’s families in the West Bank. Recently, the Israelis closed his cantina account. We are all very worried about him."

Health Status:

During the reporting period, the IOF continued to hinder the passage of patients who required medical treatment outside of Gaza. Patients requiring urgent treatment in the West Bank or Israel were deprived of their right to receive treatment. The number of patients allowed to pass through Beit Hanoun crossing for treatment in Israel or the West Bank averaged 18 per day. PCHR notes that patients applying for treatment in Israel or the West Bank are suffering from serious diseases and are in urgent need for treatment that is not available in Gaza. Furthermore, these patients are not able to access Egyptian hospitals due to the continued closure of Rafah crossing. 

1.         On 19 April, the IOF completely closed Beit Hanoun Crossing for all patients. This closure continued until the morning of 29 April.

2.         From 1 May – 4 May the IOF closed the crossing for patients with permits to travel to Israel.

3.         Through its representative in the District Civil Liaison Office, the Ministry of Health submitted 680 applications for travel permits for patients requiring treatment in Israel or in the West Bank. The Israeli occupation refused 113 applications, i.e.; 17.3% of total applications submitted. During the reporting period IOF allowed a total of 658 patients to travel via the crossing for treatment in Israel and the West Bank.

4.         During the reporting period 234 permit applications were submitted for patients and are still awaiting responses.

5.         The IOF continue to prevent Palestinian ambulances from transporting patients to hospitals in Israel or in the West Bank. However, it allows some ambulances transporting critically ill patients to deliver patients to Israeli ambulances. During their passage via Beit Hanoun crossing, Palestinian patients are subjected to humiliating inspection procedures, which can seriously delay their access and can result in patients being forced to return to the Gaza Strip.

Commercial Crossings (imports and exports)

During the reporting period, the IOF continued to prevent the export of Gaza products and to reduce imports into the Gaza Strip. Imports were limited to international aid and limited quantities of basic goods. 

Al-Mental (Karni) Crossing:

·           During the reporting period, the crossing was completely closed for imports and exports to and from the Gaza strip for 29 days, and opened for imports for a few hours per day for 8 days. The IOF prevented Gaza exports to Israel, the West Bank, and abroad. Imports were limited to wheat, flour, and animal fodder. 

·           From 13 June, 2007 until the end of the current reporting period, the crossing had been closed for a total of 264 days and partially opened for 60 days to allow imports of  wheat, flour, and fodder. 

·           Due to severe imports restrictions, the Gaza Strip suffered continued shortages of foods, medicine, and medical supplies. The almost continued closure of the crossing has also damaged all economic sectors. This has decimated manufacturing in Gaza, with an estimated 70% of businesses being forced to close. The table below details the quantities of wheat, flour, and fodder allowed into the Gaza Strip via the Crossing during the reporting period:

Sofa Crossing:

·        The Crossing remained completely closed for 12 days and partially open for imports for 25 days. The IOF permitted imports of humanitarian aid for UNRWA and WFP and some basic supplies for local traders. The IOF permitted the import of 1,245 truckloads, including rice, flour, milk and medicine for UNRWA, the Ministry of Social affairs, Ministry of Health, and UNICEF. In addition, limited supplies of  sugar, fruits, frozen meat, dairy products, rice, and salt were permitted for local traders.

·        Since June 15, 2007, the IOF has banned all imports of aggregate and construction materials to the Gaza Strip.

·        The IOF allowed imports of limited numbers of livestock. On 11 April, 660 head of cattle were imported into Gaza via the crossing, which is insufficient to meet the overall demand for fresh meat in Gaza.

·        The construction sector crisis continued. Due to chronic shortages of construction materials, prices have quadrupled since the closure tightened. This has hindered dozens of development projects across the Gaza Strip. Construction and housing projects have been indefinitely postponed, causing the layoff of thousands of construction workers.

Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) Crossing

·        During the reporting period, the crossing remained completely closed for 21 days and was

partially opened for 16 days to allow the delivery of humanitarian aid and limited quantities of basic supplies for local traders. 

·        The prevention of strawberry and cut-flowers exports intended for European markets caused heavy losses for farmers during the last harvest. The Gaza Agricultural Cooperative estimated that strawberry farmers daily produced 30-40 tons of fresh strawberries a day during the harvest. This quantity far exceeded the export limits set by IOF. The Cooperative estimated that the farmers lost some $15 million between them.

·        During the reporting period, the crossing operated only to allow the delivery of humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza, plus the delivery of limited quantities of basic supplies for local traders. The IOF permitted 398 truckloads to enter Gaza via the crossing, the majority of them containing humanitarian aid donated from Egypt, Yemen, Algeria, and the Arab citizens of Israel, in addition to some basic supplies for local traders such as medicine, rice, flour, and sugar.

Nahal Oz crossing:

·        The crossing was completely closed for 18 days, during which time no fuel entered the Gaza Strip.

·        No benzene supplies entered the Gaza Strip for 33 days of the reporting period. Prior to the total fuel stoppage, limited quantities of fuel entered Gaza for four days. During the reporting period, only 152,000 liters of benzene, which is equivalent to less than 3.5% of the Strip's need for the reported period, were delivered to the Gaza Strip. Prior to these restriction on fuel imports, approximately 120,000 litres of benzene used to enter the Gaza Strip every day. 

·        Diesel supplies to the Gaza Strip completely stopped for 32 days. Prior to this stoppage, the crossing was open for five days, to allow the delivery of 998,400 liters of diesel; i.e. 7.7% of the Strip's needs during the reported period. Prior to these restrictions, 350,000 litres of benzene used to enter every day. 

·        During the reporting period, the IOF prevented all imports of cooking gas for 23 days. However cooking gas imports were allowed for 14 days, during which time some 2,800 tons of cooking gas entered to the Gaza Strip; i.e. 21.6% of the Strip's needs during the reported period. The Gaza Strip needs approximately 350 tons of cooking gas per day. (See the table below).

Fuel quantities allowed to the Gaza Strip during the reporting period: