vrijdag 10 december 2010

- - - Dashed hopes for Gaza's productive economy - - -

Now that people in the Gaza Strip have food and five hours a day electricity, there is hope that fathers can work. They want access to their fishing grounds and earn credit in order to cultivate the buffer zone. Social economy should be ensured by authorities in accordance with rules, because they are poor.

1. Introduction

Following concerted international pressure, 20 June 2010 the government of israel announced a set of measures to ease its illegal blockade of the Gaza strip:

• Publishing a list of items not permitted into Gaza and allowing all other items to enter;
• Expanding and accelerating the inflow of construction materials for international projects;
• Expanding operations at the crossings and opening more crossings as more processing capacity becomes necessary and security conditions allow;
• Streamlining entry/exit permits for medical and humanitarian reasons and for aid workers;
• Facilitating movements of people in additional ways, as conditions and security allow. 01

Many in the international community including quartet representative Tony Blair expressed hopes that this would lead to a major change and alleviate the plight of the Palestine civil population. 02 However five months later there are few signs of real improvement on the ground as the ease’ has left foundations of the illegal blockade policy intact. In order to have a positive impact on the daily lives of the 1.5 million Palestinians (half of whom are children) the israeli blockade must fully lift of the Gaza strip.

Palestine fathers …

… collect gravel from destroyed buildings in Gaza near Erez crossing close to the israeli ‘security zone’

The israeli government committed to expand and accelerate the inflow of construction materials for international projects. So far it only approved 7 per cent of the building plan for UNRWa’s projects in Gaza. Of that 7 per cent only a small fraction of the necessary construction material has been allowed to enter for projects including schools and health centers. 03 Only an average of 715 of these truckloads have been received per month since the easing was announced. The UN reports that Gaza requires 670,000 truckloads of construction material. 04

Dashed hopes …

The israeli government committed to expand operations at the crossings and to open further crossings as necessary. They have indeed undertaken an expansion of the operations at the limited Kerem shalom crossing. The israeli committed to more than double operations at the Karni conveyor belt, but the operations there have in fact decreased since the easing. The main Karni commercial crossing stands idle. Exports remain banned and except for the humanitarian activity of exporting a small amount of strawberries, not a single truck has left Gaza since the easing.

Many humanitarian items that are not on the israeli restricted list continue to receive no permits, including vital water equipment. Two thirds of Gaza’s factories report they have received none or only some of the raw materials they need to recommence operations. As a result 39 percent of Gaza residents remain unemployed and unable to afford the new goods in the shops. Without raw materials and the chance to export, Gaza’s businesses are unable to compete with the cheaper newly imported goods. This economic development leaves 80 percent of the population dependent upon international aid. There has been a significant increase in the amount of food stuffs entering Gaza.

More Palestine business people than before have been allowed to leave Gaza, but ordinary Gaza residents are still denied access to their friends and family, and to educational opportunities in the West bank, east Jerusalem and abroad.

While restrictions on access to and from Gaza date back to the 1990s, these restrictions were intensified leading to the current blockade after Hamas took control of the strip in June 2007. The israeli board declared Gaza a ‘hostile entity’ and decided to impose additional sanctions restricting the passage of goods, fuel and people. Duty exists to protect citizens from security threats and the measures used to do so must conform to international humanitarian and human rights law. 05 This includes legal obligation to protect the safety, rights and needs of the civil population. The israeli hold the position that the restrictions and procedures are part of legitimate warfare. 06 However, the international committee of the Red cross has recently confirmed that the blockade constitutes a collective punishment of the entire civil population of Gaza and is in clear violation of international humanitarian law. 07

Following the israeli announcement of steps to ease the blockade, international attention shifted to the israeli - Palestine negotiations and the pressure from the international community to lift the blockade was also eased. The current approach risks perpetuating what is an unacceptable situation and fails to recognize that there cannot be a just and durable resolution of the israeli - Palestine conflict without an end to the isolation and punishment of people in Gaza. The israeli government and parts of the international community remain reluctant to fully lift the blockade as long as Hamas holds power in Gaza. Yet upholding the rights and needs of civil people in Gaza must not be conditional on other political objectives. Noblesse oblige in Gaza cannot wait until israeli - Palestine negotiations are concluded.

Lifting the blockade of Gaza remains a legal, economic and political imperative for those seeking a lasting resolution to israeli - Palestine conflict. The time for credible and effective action is now.

Easing of israeli Gaza blockade: Promises and realities

Measures … announced June 20th 2010 08	Summary … of implementations and results
Import …
Publish a list of items not permitted into Gaza (‘negative list’). All items absent from this list will be permitted to enter Gaza.	The published negative list extends far beyond the international definition of dual-use items. 10 Many items absent from the list still require special approval and many of them have not received it. 11 Imports of many raw materials still restricted. 12 Negative impact of cheap imports on local production. Imports increased from 20 to 35 percent of pre-blockade levels; primarily consumer goods including food. 09
Construction materials …
Allow the entry of restricted construction materials for international projects in Gaza approved by the Palestine authority. Expand and accelerate their inflow	Inflow of construction materials at only 11 percent of pre-blockade levels. 13 Delays and extra costs due to complex approval and monitoring procedures. Only 25 UNRWa projects approved in principle, i.e. 7 percent of UNRWa building plan; only a small fraction of materials for these 25 projects received. 14 Reconstruction of people's homes hampered due to exclusion of private sector.
Crossings operation …
Expand operations and capacity of crossings to Gaza, enabling the processing of a significantly greater volume of goods. (Further elaborated as allowing 250 trucks per day at Kerem shalom crossing, to be increased to 400 in the first half of 2011; and allowing 360 truckloads per week through a conveyor at Karni crossing. 15 Open additional crossings ‘as more processing capacity becomes necessary and when security concerns are fully addressed’.	Crossings’ operation still far from sufficient for the level of imports and exports required. Karni crossing with capacity to process over 750 trucks daily remains closed except for a conveyor belt. The conveyor is processing only 137 truckloads per week on average, down from 158 prior to easing, and only 38 percent of what was promised. 17 Erez crossing remains opened for restricted movement of people only. Other israeli crossings - Sufa and Nahal oz - remain closed. Kerem shalom crossing: 183 trucks entering per day on average, up from 86 prior to easing. 16
Movement of people …
Streamline permits for entry and exit for humanitarian and medical reasons and for aid workers. ‘As conditions improve’, consider additional ways to facilitate the movement of people to and from Gaza.	Overall ban on exit and entry still in place. No expansion of the few exceptional categories of Palestine allowed to travel through israeli controlled crossings. Number of exits below 1 percent of 2000 levels. 18 Fewer permits approved for UN local humanitarian staff than before easing. 19 Permit policy for aid workers and medical patients still arbitrary, unpredictable and time consuming. Increase in permits for business people.
Not mentioned in the announcement:
Exports …
Ban on exports continues, except for the humanitarian activity of exporting a small amount of strawberries, not a single truck of exports has left Gaza since the easing until now. Willingness is signaled to allow some exports by spring 2011 but makes it conditional on presence of Palestine authority at the crossings. 20
Fuel imports …
No ‘easing’ of fuel restrictions, fuel for the power plant remains limited at 68 percent of its maximum capacity; cooking gas imports have been at around 53 percent of average needs; almost no diesel and petrol allowed for commercial sector. 21 Due to the power plant fuel restrictions, exacerbated by intra Palestine disagreements, there is a chronic lack of electricity and regular blackouts, affecting provision of essential services, including water supply, sewage treatment, and health services.
Buffer zone …
No change, access to around 35 percent of Gaza’s farmland and 85 percent of maritime areas for fishing remains israeli restricted ‘buffer zone’, with devastating impact on the economy and people’s rights and livelihoods. an estimated 178,000 people are directly affected. Boundaries of the restricted areas are highly arbitrary and enforced by live fire: 6 civilians have been killed (2 of them children) and 57 injured (10 of them children) by israeli fire in the buffer zone since the easing of the blockade. 23
the israeli production blockade is of an ethic way below par …

2. Paralysed production …

In addition to limitations on access to raw materials, Gaza’s productive sector is paralysed by the continuing ban on exports. 26 In the past Gaza’s economy was largely reliant on exports of goods such as furniture, clothing and textiles, food and agricultural products, providing livelihoods to tens of thousands of workers and their families. The scale of economic activity in Gaza is now dependent on local demand, which in turn is constrained by the low purchasing power of the population and the relatively small size of the local market. 27

Even under the 2005 agreement on ‘movement and access’ signed by israel, the target for exports from Gaza was set at 400 trucks per day. In contrast, under the blockade since June 2007, only 224 truckloads of exports in total have been allowed out of Gaza: occasional shipments of carnations and strawberries. 28 In the meantime, the only exports leaving Gaza are passing through the tunnels under the Egypt border.

Factory owner once delivered 1000 clothing items/day …

Until 2004 Khaled Nasan used to send up to 400 clothing items to israel everyday – from trousers to shirts and underwear. Now he depends on the second hand clothes israeli send him. He used to make 1,000 shekels a day, nowadays he just opens the shop so that by the end of the day might make enough money to eat with his wife and four children and pay the university fees of two of them. UNRWa sends food vouchers to his family and thank for that, because without that help what would he do?

Now he is selling second hand clothes coming from israel at Gaza market

Construction materials import …

In its announcement of June 20th, the israeli government committed to allow, expand and accelerate entry of construction materials into Gaza for projects implemented by the international community and approved by the Palestine authority (Pa). However, the progress of these projects has been very limited due to israel' lengthy approval process and its onerous monitoring and verification requirements. after a project is approved in principle, a detailed schedule has to be negotiated and each individual truckload then must be approved. Use of each construction item then has to be extensively documented from point of entry to its final placement through regular reporting including multiple photographs. This results in significant additional costs to international agencies and their donors.

One of the delaying factors is a restricted operation of the conveyor belt at the Karni crossing used for the entry of construction materials as well as wheat grain and animal feed. Despite israeli agreement July 2010 to expand its operation to 120 truckloads daily for 3 days per week 46, the conveyor belt continues to operate at 80 truckloads for 2 days per week, i.e. less than half of the promised weekly capacity (and often only 1 day per week due to frequent technical breakdowns). In fact, the weekly average number of truckloads entering via the conveyor belt decreased from 158 prior to the easing to 137 since then. 47 Due to this bottleneck, UNRWa has received just a fraction of the truckloads of construction items due to enter Gaza per the schedule agreed with israel.

The israeli government has stated that it restricts entry of construction materials because they ‘are liable to be used for Palestine military purposes’ and that it will only permit their entry for international projects approved by the Palestine authority (Pa). 51 However, with cement available through the tunnels, by default the consequence of this policy ends up restricting building materials for the international organizations that face both burdensome israel procedures and donor governments’ restrictions on procurement. Meanwhile, average Palestine civil people cannot afford the inflated prices of materials from the tunnels. Furthermore, by tying projects of the international community in Gaza more closely to the Palestine authority as opposed to the Hamas authorities, the new policy is further entrenching intra Palestine divisions and politicizing international aid in Gaza.

For Gaza’s private sector, the situation is even worse. The private sector is excluded from the possibility to import construction materials including concrete, steel and gravel, hampering efforts of people in Gaza to rebuild their homes, businesses and other property. 49 over 6,000 homes were destroyed or severely damaged during operation cast lead and only 22 percent of the homes with major damage have been repaired so far, using recycled rubble and cement smuggled through the tunnels. 50

Access to fish grounds …

While the Oslo accords entitled Palestine to access maritime areas up to 20 nautical miles from the shore, israel has progressively reduced the limit to 3 nautical miles, thus barring access to 85 percent of the area agreed in Oslo. This has had a devastating impact on Gaza’s fishing industry, which is no longer able to reach schools of large fish which remain further out to sea. From 2008 to 2009, the total catch in Gaza decreased by 47 percent. 62 The poverty rate among Gaza’s 4,000 fishermen has reached nearly 90 percent, up from 50 percent in 2008. 63 Israel enforce the limit by opening fire on fishing boats, even when they are within the 3 nautical mile limit, sometimes leading to casualties.

Fisherman Jamal Basala …

He used to employ 20 fishermen on his trawler but with the 3 nautical mile limit and daily shootings from israeli naval forces his income has gone down to its lowest ever. He can no longer employ anyone and is receiving humanitarian aid.

3. Human capital development

Education

Over 90 percent of UNRWa schools are already running double shifts and shipping containers are sometimes used as classrooms. UNRWa was unable to get construction materials to build new schools. 40,000 eligible children could not be enrolled at UNRWa schools at the start of the new academic year and were referred to schools under the authority of the Hamas government. So far israel has approved -in principle- only 6 out of 100 schools needed by UNRWa to accommodate students in the coming years. 48

Housing

According to UN agencies, the Gaza strip needs about 86,000 new housing units to accommodate past population growth and also to replace the homes destroyed or damaged as a result of israeli military operations. It would require the entry of over 670,000 truckloads of construction materials into Gaza in order to build these units. 43 Since the easing of the blockade only 715 truckloads of construction materials for all uses (not only housing) have entered Gaza per month on average, a mere 11 percent of pre-blockade levels. 44 at this rate, it would take many decades to build the needed homes, while the unmet housing needs grow each day the blockade continues.

Shelter needs …

The reconstruction of Gaza cannot meaningfully take place until the blockade is lifted and construction materials become available to the private sector

Water and sanitation

• 60 percent of the population receives running water every 4 or 5 days, for 6-8 hours. 39
• About 90 percent of water supplied to Gaza residents is not suitable for drinking and is contaminated with salt and nitrates. 41
• 50 to 80 million liters of untreated or partially treated sewage are released into the sea every day. 40

Consumer goods import

The israeli easing measures have relaxed restrictions on the number of imports of many basic goods banned since the imposition of the blockade in June 2007, such as spices, clothes, cosmetics, refrigerators and cars, and reduced their flow through the tunnels under the Egypt border. For the population of Gaza, this means improved availability of these goods, often at lower prices and better quality, than through the tunnel trade. The number of items entering remains restricted, and given the general impoverishment caused by the blockade, few in Gaza can afford to buy many of these goods.

Consumer goods make up the majority of import volumes. Food items, which constituted less than 20 percent of goods entering Gaza before the blockade, now account for 44 percent of imports. 24 In order to restart local production and revive the economy, entry of raw materials is vital. While some raw materials including textiles, wood, drink concentrates and industrial margarine gradually started moving in, many remain restricted. In a survey of Gaza businesses between July and sep 2010, only 18 percent of companies indicated that they received all the raw materials they needed, while 44 percent received only some and 38 percent received none. 14

The easing of consumer imports is, paradoxically, also undermining the remaining local production. Many producers in Gaza cannot compete with the lower prices of newly imported goods such as cheap textiles of Chinese origin and food products from israel, while access to their former export markets remains banned. 31

Breakfast for husband and child …

Reem Said Hassanein, mother of 6 and Oxfam’s Urban voucher programme beneficiary, husband is former construction worker and now unemployed: “Today is the first time in three years that he has been called to work for the day. she has no idea how it will be tomorrow as there are no guarantees for work, but thank there is some construction going on now that small amounts of cement have started entering Gaza.

When Reem Said Hassanein got married she could buy our house and furniture and live a good life but now she couldn’t even buy food

Access to hospitals

Palestinian patients seeking specialized medical treatment unavailable in Gaza are one of the very few categories allowed to leave the Gaza strip - if granted a permit. The permits are still frequently delayed or denied by israeli authorities, which can have dire consequences. Delayed patients generally miss their hospital appointments and need to start the permit process over again. Since 2009, 33 patients have died before access to the hospital they were referred to. For children in particular, caregiving family members of ill children also do not receive permits to cross, posing additional child protection risks. Some patients seeking permits are interrogated by israeli intelligence services at the Erez crossing, which is seen as an unethical collecting information.

Given the absence of progress on the israel side and increased opening of the Rafah crossing since June 2010, a substantially higher proportion of patients from Gaza are now being referred to Egypt hospitals, the much lengthier journey can compromise patient care and is ill suited for emergency. 58

Two year old girl Nasma Abu Lasheen …

This Gaza child suffering from leukaemia, died on 16 oct 2010 after israeli authorities failed to issue her an urgent permit in time for life-saving medical treatment at an israeli hospital. When the permit was granted after more than a week’s delay, it was already too late. 56

Since the easing more equipment has been allowed entry, but some essential types of equipment are still blocked, including radiation machines for oncology, endoscopy and laparoscopy machines for surgery, microscopes and other optic equipment. 59 The israel restrictions enforce treatment outside Gaza.

Foreign projects

Since the easing of the blockade, the israeli authorities have approved only 25 UNRWa projects (such as schools, clinics and housing units), representing a mere 7 percent of UNRWa’s building plan. Only a small fraction of the truckloads needed to complete these 25 projects have been received so far. The delays have a highly detrimental impact on the UNRWa construction programme. 45

Despite the israeli authorities’ commitment in the jun 20th 2010 announcement to streamline entry and exit permits to and from Gaza for medical and humanitarian reasons and for aid workers, there has been so far no tangible improvement in practice. On the contrary, there has been a decrease in the rate of permit approvals for entry or exit of UN agencies’ national humanitarian staff. 54 International human rights workers are denied entry to Gaza via Erez. Permit policy for aid workers and medical patients remains arbitrary, unpredictable and time consuming.

4. Human trafficking

Palestinian freedom of movement including to travel, work, study and visit family members abroad continues to be denied. The ban on movement applies also to travel between Gaza and the West bank – including east Jerusalem –together recognized as a single territorial unit by the international community and israel as signatory parties to the Oslo accords. such movement would be essential for a normal functioning of the Palestine society. In the announcement on the easing, the israeli government of israel stated that ‘as conditions improve’, it will consider ways to facilitate the movement of people to and from Gaza. however, apart from the case of business people, there has been no visible easing of the restrictions and no expansion of the criteria. Since aug 2010, only 2,140 residents (from the exceptional categories) have been allowed to exit Gaza via the Erez crossing per month on average, similar to the levels prior to the easing. 52 This is less than 1 percent of the number of exits in sep 2000, before israeli tightened restrictions on the movement of Palestinians. 53

Unlike on the israeli side, there has been a significant increase in travel via the Rafah crossing on the Egypt border as a result of its increased opening since jun 2010. Despite the improvement, there are still restrictions on the categories of individuals permitted to travel through the border crossing.

A significant positive change in the area of freedom of movement has been an approximately fourfold increase in the numbers of business people allowed to leave and enter Gaza via the Erez crossing. 55 This is an improvement which must be built on to allow freedom of movement for all people. Human rights defenders from Gaza are denied exit via the Erez crossing, and are not allowed to meet with their counterparts in israel and the West bank, nor to travel abroad.

5. Economy the way up

The much reported economic growth of 16 percent in Gaza relates to the period between the first quarter of 2009 and first quarter of 2010, prior to the easing. The World bank partly attributes this growth to a lowered base for comparison caused by the plunge in economic activity during operation cast lead and subsequent months of 2009. According to the World bank it also reflects the inflows of humanitarian assistance, the thriving tunnel operations as well as israeli smaller easing steps during the given period. 32 The IMF adds that this growth “is unlikely to last if imports of private investment inputs and exports to israel remain prohibited”. 33 Gaza’s economic output per capita is today 40 percent lower than it was in 1994, at the start of the Oslo peace process. 34

Key lock indicators …

• Power outages usually last 4-6 hours a day and often longer. 38
• Unemployment rate around 39 percent, one of the highest in the world. 37
• 78 percent of homes with damages from operation cast lead not rebuild. 43
• 61 percent of the population is food insecure. 36
• 80 percent of the population is dependent on international aid. 35

According to the World bank, the prohibition on exports combined with the restrictions on raw materials preclude the revival of the private sector. 29 Currently 65 percent of industrial businesses in Gaza are shut down and the rest operate only at partial capacity. The sector is currently employing 6,000 workers, down from 35,000 prior to the blockade. 30

6. Recommendations to international community…

Renewed international action to ensure an immediate, sustained and unconditional lift of the blockade in line with international law is necessary. 63 That includes:

1.   End the ban on exports

2.   Ensure access to Gaza’s agricultural land and fishing grounds

3.   Expand operations of the crossings

4.   Lift restrictions on fuel imports

5.   Allow entry of construction and raw materials for the Private sector

Security for both Palestine civil people and Israeli must be ensured. Reinstating and respecting the rule of international law and enabling positive, self sufficient futures for the people will create more security for civil Israeli and Palestine people and their territory. Authorities must be able to secure social economy in accordance with international law.

Primary responsibility for ending the blockade and ensuring the welfare of Palestine civil people lies with israel which controls Gaza’s air space, territorial waters, most crossing points and other important aspects of the lives of Palestine inhabitants. Egypt and the Palestine authority in Gaza must also do their utmost to help Gaza’s civil population. This includes the obligation of the Hamas authorities to stop and prevent all attacks against israeli civilians immediately. (64) The international community must do its part to:

End the production blockade:

1> Plan visits to Gaza as part of every visit to the middle east.

2> Support genuine investigations into violations of international human rights and international humanitarian law. Organize accountability for these violations in israeli forces and palestine armed groups, prevent future violations.

3> State explicitly that the ongoing blockade is illegal under international law.

4> Convene a meeting of the UN security Council to implement resolution 1860 which ensures sustained and regular cross border flow of goods and people and calls for tangible steps towards intra Palestine reconciliation. Further action necessary for its review should be considered.

5> Launch a new, concerted diplomatic initiative for an immediate and unconditional relief of repression:

• Protect civil people in these areas ;

• Ensure access to Gaza’s agricultural- and fish- grounds ;

• Allow exports from Gaza ;

• Lift restrictions on construction- and raw materials, fuel ;

• Expand cross border traffic ;

• Allow cross border movement of humans ;

Literature …

01 Statement following the israel' board meeting, June 20th 2010.

02 For example, the quartet representative Tony Blair stated: “These changes are significant and, once implemented, should have a dramatic influence on the daily lives of the people of Gaza and on the private sector”. The office of Tony Blair, new Gaza guidelines will support health, education, water and sanitation projects, jul 5th 2010.

03 Information from UNRWa Gaza as of nov 25th 2010. Calculation is based on the total value of the planned construction in US dollars.

04 OCha, Gaza crossings online database, period aug-nov 2010.

05 The israeli also has a duty to safeguard the health and welfare of civil population. Security measures must respect fundamental rights to free movement, health, decent living conditions, protection from hunger, as well as special duties to protect children.

06 Answer given by the israel' state prosecutor in response to a lawsuit filed by the israeli NGO Gisha: “It goes without saying that the very inclusion of this last qualification in the article shows that damaging the enemy’s economy is in and of itself a legitimate means in warfare and a relevant consideration even while deciding to allow the entry of relief consignments”. nov 17th 2010.

07 International committee of the Red cross, Gaza closure: Not another year!, jun 14th 2010.

08 Statement following the israel' board meeting, jun 20th 2010.

09 OCha, Gaza crossings online database, values for jan-may and aug-nov 2010 as compared to the first five months of 2007.

10 The ‘negative lists’ published on jul 4th 2010:

1. A list of military and ‘dual-use’ (civil and military) items. The dual-use part extends significantly beyond the internationally recognized Wassenaar arrangement list of dual-use items which should define israel’s domestic legislation.
2. A list of construction items and materials to be allowed entry into Gaza only for international projects approved by the Palestine authority.

11 For example, industrial machinery and equipment and materials for water and sanitation projects. According to the wash cluster opt, merely 25 percent of materials requested for wash projects have been allowed into Gaza since the easing, although at least 61 percent of the materials are not listed as restricted items and therefore should be allowed without a special permit. Information from the wash cluster opt, oct 27th 2010. See also OCha, the humanitarian monitor, sep 2010.

12 PalTrade, Gaza strip cargo movement and access report.

13 OCha, Gaza crossings online database, period aug-nov 2010.

14 Information from UNRWa Gaza as of nov 25th 2010.

15 Operation of the Karni conveyor belt was supposed to be increased from 80 truckloads on 2 days per week to 120 truckloads on 3 days per week. Maj. Gen. Eitan Dangot, coordinator of government activities in the Territories, easing of the closure of Gaza, jul 6th 2010, OCha, the humanitarian monitor, jul 2010.

16 OCha, Gaza crossings online database, values for jan-may and aug-nov 2010.

17 OCha, Gaza crossings online database, values for jan-may and aug-nov 2010.

18 Gisha, facts behind MFa report on easing of Gaza closure, sep 21th 2010.

19 In september 2010, only 47 percent of UN agencies’ requests for entry or exit of their national staff were approved and in october only 45 percent, down from the average of 76 percent during the first half of 2010. OCha, the humanitarian monitor, sep 2010. OCha, the humanitarian monitor, oct 2010.

20 See e.g. associated press, israeli general lays out plan for reviving Gaza, oct 26th 2010.

21 PalTrade, Gaza strip cargo movement and access report.

22 OCha/World food programme, Between the fence and a hard place: The humanitarian impact of israeli-imposed restrictions on access to land and sea in the Gaza strip, special focus, aug 2010.

23 Numbers since jul 1 2010. Information provided by OCha Jerusalem, nov 4th 2010.

24 OCha, Gaza crossings online database, prior to the blockade construction and raw materials made up 65 percent of import volumes. Information from OCha Jerusalem nov 12th 2010.

25 PalTrade, Gaza strip cargo movement and access report.

26 Some willingness is signaled by israeli representatives to open up some exports by spring 2011 but make it conditional on the presence of the Palestine authority at the crossings. See e.g. associated press, israeli general lays out plan for reviving Gaza, oct 26th 2010. Limited shipments of carnations and strawberries have been exported in the past without Palestine authority presence at the crossings.

27 PalTrade, Gaza strip cargo movement and access report.

28 At the same place.

29 The World bank, the underpinnings of the future Palestine state: sustainable growth and institutions, economic monitoring report to the ad hoc liaison committee, sep 21th 2010.

30 PalTrade, Gaza strip cargo movement and access report. There has been a limited improvement in these indicators relative to 2009. according to the World bank, this is mainly the result of firms having had time to adapt to the blockade and of increased access to goods imported through the tunnels. The World bank. The underpinnings of the future Palestine state: sustainable growth and institutions, economic monitoring report to the ad hoc liaison committee, sep 21th 2010.

31 PalTrade, Gaza strip cargo movement and access report; The independent, how good news became bad for Gaza, israeli demotion eased the trade embargo, but history has made some Palestine businesses small, oct 10th 2010; BBC news middle east, Gaza businesses boxed in by israeli export ban, 2 nov 2010; Gisha, Gaza gateway – Facts and analysis about the crossings, for Gaza tailors, market is flooded, external markets are banned, aug 26th 2010.

32 The World bank, the underpinnings of the future Palestine state: sustainable growth and institutions, economic monitoring report to the ad hoc liaison committee, sep 21th 2010.

33 Macroeconomic and fiscal framework for the West bank and Gaza: sixth review of progress, staff report for the meeting of the ad hoc liaison committee, sep 21th 2010.

34 At the same place.

35 UNRWa, Thousands missing out on education in Gaza, jul 6th 2010.

36 World food programme / Food and agriculture organization, occupied Palestine territory - Food security and vulnerability analysis report, dec 2009.

37 The World bank - The underpinnings of the future Palestine state: sustainable growth and institutions, economic monitoring report to the ad hoc liaison committee, sep 21th 2010. Macroeconomic and fiscal framework for the West bank and Gaza: sixth review of progress, staff report for the meeting of the ad hoc liaison committee, sept 21th 2010.

38 OCha, the humanitarian monitor, sep 2010.

39 Ewash, wash cluster opt monthly situation report, oct 30th 2010.

40 Ewash, the impact of the blockade on water and sanitation in Gaza, jul 2010.

41 At the same place.

42 Information from UNRWa Gaza as of nov 23th 2010.

43 Shelter sector Gaza, Gaza housing needs after three years of blockade and war, shelter advocacy fact-sheet 2, jun 2010. Aee also IRIN, opt: obstacles on road to Gaza rebuilding, jun 30th 2010.

44 OCha, Gaza crossings online database, period aug-oct 2010.

45 Information from UNRWa as of nov 25th 2010.

46 IDF, easing of the closure of Gaza, jul 6th 2010; OCha, the humanitarian monitor, jul 2010.

47 oCha, Gaza crossings online database, values for jan-may and aug-nov 2010.

48 Information provided by UNRWa. see also OCha, the humanitarian monitor, sep 2010 and Gisha, due to Gaza closure, 40,000 students refused from UNRWa schools, sep 15th 2010.

49 These items are not part of the internationally recognized Wassenaar arrangement list of dual use items which is also incorporated into israel’s domestic legislation.

50 Information provided by UNRWa Gaza nov 23th 2010.

51 Israel ministry of foreign affairs, Gaza: list of controlled entry items, jul 4th 2010.

52 Figure for aug-oct 2010. In apr-jun 2010, the monthly average has been 2,083. Data provided by Gisha, nov 2010.

53 Gisha, Facts behind mfa facts.

54 In sept 2010, only 47 percent of UN agencies’ requests for entry or exit of their national staff were approved and in october only 45 percent, down from the average of 76 percent during the first half of 2010. OCha, the humanitarian monitor, sep 2010. OCha, the humanitarian monitor, oct 2010.

55 The number of exit permits for business people increased from an average of 114 in apr-Jun 2010 to 448 in aug-oct 2010. Data provided by Gisha, nov 2010.

56 Physicians for human rights – israel, delayed exit of a toddler from Gaza results in death, oct 20th 2010.

57 Who, monthly report referral of patients from the Gaza strip, sep 2010.

58 The numbers of patients referred to Egypt have roughly doubled since jun 2010. Whereas between jan and may 2010 24 percent of patients referred to hospitals outside Gaza went to Egypt, since June Egypt’s share of referrals has risen to 41 percent. Who, monthly report referral of patients from the Gaza strip, sep 2010.

59 Information provided by physicians for human rights – israel, oct 2010.

60 Al Mezan center for human rights, and Gisha, human rights lawyer in Gaza to baroness Catherine Ashton: Use your power to assist students from Gaza to reach their studies in the West bank, jul 18th 2010.

61 Food and agriculture organization (Fao), Farming without land, fishing without water: Gaza agriculture sector struggles to survive, may 2010.

62 Poverty defined as monthly income below 190 US dollars. International committee of the Red cross, Gaza closure: Not another year!, jun 14th 2010.

63 Council of the european union, European Union council conclusions on Gaza, 3023rd foreign affairs Council Meeting Luxembourg, jun 14th 2010: “In line with UNSC resolution 1860, the European Union reiterates its call for an immediate, sustained and unconditional opening of crossings for the flow of humanitarian aid, commercial goods and persons to and from Gaza including goods from the West bank. The Council calls for a solution that addresses israel's legitimate security concerns including a complete stop to all violence and arms smuggling into Gaza.”

64 From jun to nov 2010, 30 mortars and 40 missiles were fired from Gaza into israel causing no casualties. nov 17th 2010.

Read more …

• The israeli attack launched dec 27th 2008 constitutes a serious violation of international humanitarian law. Not only Hamas is accountable for the current situation but also israel, says Europe.
• As the fighting in and around Gaza intensified, it became increasingly difficult to get information about the course of the fighting. Many Palestinians maintain a weblog, also from the Gaza Strip. As soon as there is power they quickly put on their computer and place their message on the web, some have a generator.
• In the month of January 2009, approximately 400 children were killed in Gaza. In a population of 1.5 million people that is very much compared to the number of child murders in the netherlands: about 60 per year.
• United Nations relief and works agency for Palestine refugees UNWRa give children who live in a state of siege the opportunity to express themselves and have fun. This summer children had 6300 kites up in the air.

http://tinyurl.com/DashedHopes

Labels: MiddleEast