Gaza info


19th June:
Ceasefire agreement between Israel and the Hamas government comes into force for six months. Israel insisted on a verbal agreement. It stated: cessation of all military hostilities on both sides, opening of Gaza's borders after 72 hours for 30% more trade, unrestricted trade after ten days. Egypt supports the extension of the agreement to the West Bank. (source: International Crisis Group: Ending the War in Gaza. Middle East Briefing No. 26, 5.1.2009, p.3)

19th June
Israeli warships fire four rockets at Palestinian fishermen in Palestinian waters. On the same day aircraft circling over Gaza City break the sound barrier near the ground and trigger a panic among the people. In the area of Khan Yunis Israeli patrols shoot over the border fence at farmers who work on their fields on the other side of the border. (source: Ma'an, 26.06.2008). This scenario is repeated almost daily.

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(July 2008) The Palestine Center for Human Rights currently publishes "Narratives under Siege", to highlight the impact of the siege on the population of Gaza -  here is an example: www.pchrgaza.org/files/campaigns/english/gaza_closure/Narratives_17.html

... relevant to the Gaza Strip and the Free Gaza Campaign

Is Gaza under Israeli occupation?

Israel claims that it no longer occupies the Gaza Strip.  This position is calculated to avoid the responsibilities of an occupying power under international law.  But as a matter of fact Israel occupies the Gaza Strip because it maintains effective control over it.  The international law relevant to occupied territories become applicable whenever a territory comes under the effective control of hostile foreign armed forces.

According to the International Committee of the Red Cross:

The question of "control" calls up at least two different interpretations. It could be taken to mean that a situation of occupation exists whenever a party to a conflict exercises some level of authority or control within foreign territory. So, for example, advancing troops could be considered bound by the law of occupation already during the invasion phase of hostilities. This is the approach suggested in the ICRC\'s Commentary to the Fourth Geneva Convention (1958). 

An alternative and more restrictive approach would be to say that a situation of occupation exists only once a party to a conflict is in a position to exercise sufficient authority over enemy territory to enable it to discharge all of the duties imposed by the law of occupation.

Although Israel\'s position on the applicable international law fluctuates a great deal, its general approach has been to adopt this latter interpretation.  This is reflected in Israel\'s claim that the Palestinian Authority is responsible for the welfare of Gaza\'s population.  Yet the Palestinian Authority lacks the capacity to meet this responsibility due to Israel\'s effective control of the Gaza Strip.The residents of Gaza require Israel\'s consent to travel to and from Gaza, to take their goods to Palestinian and foreign markets, to acquire food and medicine, and to access water and electricity. The Palestinian Authority must seek Israel\'s permission to perform several key functions of government.  These include the provision of social and health services, security, setting immigration policy, developing the Palestinian economy, and allocating resources.  In other words Israel has total control of Gaza is obliged under international law to provide these services, but does not.  If Israel does not wish to provide these services it must end its occupation of Gaza.

Israel\'s obligations as occupying power

Under international law Israel is obliged to uphold certain specified basic standards to protect both the population under its control and the land on which that population lives.  These obligations are expressed in the Hague Regulations of 1907, the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949, and the First Additional Protocol to the Fourth Geneva Convention of 1977.

Israel\'s control of Gaza\'s borders

If Gaza was not under occupation its residents would be free to leave and control its borders, including the sea.  However Israel maintains effective control of Gaza\'s borders, its airspace, and the waters beyond the Gaza coast.  Palestinian use of the coastal waters is subject to severe restrictions.  Palestinian boats are prohibited from going out beyond a prescribed distance, and foreign vessels are prohibited from coming within 12 nautical miles off the coast.  Furthermore, the Israeli navy retains the right to "take any measures necessary against vessels suspected of … any… illegal activity."

Israel has maintained regular bans on fishing off the Gaza coast, such as its total ban on fishing between June to late October 2006.  In late October 2006, Israel partially relaxed the ban.  However in the same month the UN Office for the coordination of humanitarian affairs noted:

The fishing industry has been paralysed by the complete ban imposed by the IDF on fishing grounds off the Gaza Strip for over 50 days. On 14 August [2006], the General Syndicate of Marine Fishers requested the assistance of the international community to support the needs of the fishermen and their families – there are almost 3,000 licensed fishermen in the Gaza Strip, most support sizeable families.

The Israeli military has fired on and destroyed boats, and killed fishermen who have gone out to sea despite the ban.  Furthermore, the Palestinians cannot develop maritime trade opportunities or develop natural resources located within the territorial waters without Israel\'s permission.
  

Sources

Advisory Opinion of the International Court of Justice
www.icj-cij.org/scripts/view.php?c=131&f=1671&k=96c0dffd72385cd0152ab44092ac019c&lang=en

Geneva Conventions
www.icrc.org/Web/Eng/siteeng0.nsf/htmlall/genevaconventions

International Committee of the Red Cross
www.icrc.org/web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/html/634KFC

Negotiation Affairs Department, Palestine Liberation Organisation
www.nad-plo.org

United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs
www.ochaopt.org

See in particular Section III Hague Regulations Articles 43 (restore public order and safety) and 46 (protection of individual and group liberty); and the Fourth Geneva Convention Articles 6 (lists relevant articles), 48 (freedom of movement outside occupied territory), 53 (destruction of property prohibited), 55 (obligation to provide food and medical supplies), 59 (occupying power obliged to provide free passage to consignments for the relief of the needy population under occupation)

 


Oxford Research Group:
"Conflict, Economic Closure and Human Security in Gaza"
by Justin Alexander
October 2007


"Measuring only 360 square kilometres in area, the Gaza Strip has a population of over one million Palestinians, of whom 750,000 are registered refugees. Over 40 percent of the population, or 55 percent of the registered refugee population, live in eight densely crowded refugee camps. While only a sixth the size of the West Bank in terms of area, the Gaza Strip is home to approximately 41 percent of the combined population. Socio-economic conditions are adverse. Inadequate infrastructure, high population density, a slender resource base, and the effects of over 27 years of occupation have turned the Gaza Strip into a congested urban area. It is characterized by poverty, poor environmental health conditions, low per capita income, few formal employment opportunities, and extremely limited participation by women in the labour force among other things, have contributed to lack of enjoyment of basic cultural, social, economic and civil rights, and a lack of awareness of these rights." - Al-Dameer Association for Human Rights Gaza

- Info on current Gaza status (Btselem.org)
- More info on current Gaza status (Al Mezan Center for Human Rights)

(Click here to see large picture)

Since 2000, the Israeli authorities have denied entry to the Occupied Palestinian Territories to hundreds of international citizens who intend to work with grassroots organizations such as the International Solidarity Movement, Christian Peacemaker Teams, the International Women’s Peace Service, and many other NGOs that provide humanitarian assistance to the occupied civilian population. - Access For Peace in the Middle East
 


Rafah Home Demolitions, 2004  (Click here for large image)

 

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