The Gaza Strip: Access Report May 2005
This report monitors monthly humanitarian access and movement in the Gaza Strip.1 All movement through the Gaza Strip’s borders is controlled by Israeli authorities. A security fence surrounds all of the Gaza Strip and sea access is restricted. Palestinian movement in and out of the Gaza Strip is through: • Erez crossing for workers and merchants who have permits to enter Israel; • Erez crossing for international humanitarian organisations; • Rafah crossing, between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, for access to other countries, including for overseas medical referrals; • Four commercial crossings of which Karni is the largest.
Palestinian movement within the Gaza Strip is restricted: • through Abu Houli checkpoint in the central Gaza Strip; • by over 200 observed closure obstacles; • for Palestinians living in enclaves in close proximity to Israeli settlements.2
1. Gaza Strip Crossing Points
A. Erez crossing and industrial estate
Between January and March, there was a steady increase in the number of Palestinian workers and merchants entering Israel and the Erez industrial zone. This trend ended following the closure at Erez with the onset of the Jewish Passover holidays in the third week of April. The closure continued until 15 May for Palestinian workers and merchants, and 16 May for access to Erez industrial zone. This closure was imposed on the grounds that some workers had been submitting false documents while trying to leave the Gaza Strip. Restrictions continue on international humanitarian organisations who need prior coordination with Israeli authorities to enter and leave the Strip. A few high-level Palestinian UN staff are permitted to cross. (See appendix, Table 1).
Erez Crossing: Workers to Israel Average Daily Labour Movement Per Month 2005 Workers to Erez Industrial 3500 Merchants to Israel 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0
Jan Feb Mar Apr May source: UNRWA
1 During the Sharm El-Sheikh summit in February 2005, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon announced an easing in access restrictions for Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip. 2 See monthly Gaza Situation Reports at
B. Karni crossing point
Commercial Supplies Imports and exports through Karni have increased since March 2005.
Karni Crossing: Truckloads of Imports / Exports 2005 Imports Exports 8000 7000 6000 5000 4000 3000 2000 inian Ministry of Civil 1000 0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May
Affairs
Humanitarian Supplies Humanitarian supplies, notably from UNRWA, go through this crossing. Since the end of March 2005, there has been a decrease of both containers (20 feet equivalent units- TFEUs) entering and exiting Karni crossing due to the fact that the backlog of containers at Ashdod port had cleared3 (See appendix, Table 2).
Karni Crossing: Humanitarian Supplies TFEUs received 800 TFEUs returned Laden containers in Ashdod 700 600 500 400 300 200 100 0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May source: UNRWA source: Palest
Israeli authorities did not allow the import of petrol into the Gaza Strip for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) in May, as was the case in April.
3 On 27 February 2005, an agreement was reached between UNRWA and the Israeli authorities to allow 20 full containers to enter the Gaza Strip daily (Sunday through Thursday) via Sufa checkpoint, and 40 empty containers to leave the Gaza Strip daily (Monday through Thursday) via Karni cargo crossing point. Sufa crossing has however been closed since 29 March; all incoming humanitarian containers pass through Karni.
Gaza Access Report - May 2005 Page 2 of 5
C. Rafah crossing
Palestinian movement There was an increase of both arrivals and departures through Rafah crossing in May compared to the previous month (See appendix, Table 3). The current opening hours, according to the Rafah passenger authorities, are 9am until 4pm for departures and 9am and until 7pm for arrivals.
Daily average entering Rafah Palestinian crossing: Daily average exiting Total People and Medical Patients 2005 Total patients entering 400 Total patients exiting 350 300 250 200 150 100 50 0 Mar Apr May source: Palestinian Ministry of Civil Affairs
The x-ray machine installed at Rafah crossing point earlier this year by the Israeli authorities was removed in May. Concerns had been expressed by the Palestinian Authority over the levels of radiation transmitted by the machine as well as cultural sensitivities regarding the screening of women.
2. Internal Movement
Palestinian movement is restricted within the Gaza Strip by more than 200 observed closure obstacles. The IDF have periodically segmented the Gaza Strip into three areas by closing off the coastal road at Netzarim, and Abu Houli junction. In exceptional cases, the IDF divided the Gaza Strip into four segments by blocking the road at Morag-Sufa junction.
A. Abu Houli junction
As of 9 February, Abu Houli checkpoint was operational 24 hours a day for vehicular traffic. Prior to this, the opening hours had been from 7am until 6pm. In March, private vehicles were once again allowed to pass through the junction with the requirement of four people per vehicle; in May this requirement was reduced to two people per vehicle. People are still not allowed to cross by foot, and it is only possible to cross the junction in one direction at any time, which leads to delays.
• 20 to 22 May: The checkpoint was closed from 1pm on 20 May to 1am on 22 May with the exception of one hour on 20 May when the checkpoint was opened.
B. Palestinian enclaves
Isolated Palestinian communities in close proximity to Israeli settlements or settlement roads have been particularly affected by internal closures (See attached map). Common characteristics of these areas, or ‘enclaves’ are: - Access is controlled by the IDF through a gate or a checkpoint; - vehicles are not permitted to cross. Goods, including drinking water and cooking gas, are carried by hand or donkey cart. - Restrictions according to gender and age are often in place. - Access in and out of the enclaves is limited to residents. Humanitarian orgainzations require prior coordination with the IDF. Gaza Access Report - May 2005 Page 3 of 5
- The back-to-back transfer of patients through coordination is required. - Students often miss classes due to irregular opening hours at the gates/chekpoints. - Residents are afraid to leave their homes after dark due to the close proximity of IDF observation towers and patrols.
3. Fishing Since January 2005, the Israeli authorities have permitted fishing up to 10 nautical miles from the Gaza Strip coast compared to 6 nautical miles previously. Under the Oslo Accords, Gaza Strip fishermen are entitled to fish 20 nautical miles from the coast. Fishing is permitted from the Rafah wharf in Al Mawasi, but is prohibited in Al Mawasi- Khan Younis, where restrictions have been in place since October 2003.
17 June 2005
Gaza Access Report - May 2005 Page 4 of 5
Appendix Table 1: Palestinian workers/merchants crossing to Israel and Erez Industrial Zone by month and daily average Jan 2005 Feb 2005 Mar 2005 Apr 2005 May 2005 Total Daily Total Daily Total Daily Total Daily Total Daily Month Average Month Average Month Average Month Average Month Average Workers Israel 1,073 49 8,545 390 37,286 1,451 73,621 3,200 50,146 2,067 Merchants 373 17 1,552 70 4,055 158 5,279 224 2,661 103 Israel Erez Industrial 205 9 5,560 278 12,936 537 9,741 487 5,955 259 Zone Figures provided by UNRWA
Table 2: UNRWA humanitarian supplies through Karni crossing by twenty feet equivalent units (TFEUs) Jan 2005 Feb 2005 Mar 2005 Apr 2005 May 2005 TFEUs received 94 290 436 310 262 TFEUs returned 91 314 678 392 286 Laden containers in Ashdod by end N/A N/A 700 331 240 month Figures provided by UNRWA
Table 3: Truckloads of imports / exports through Karni crossing – May 2005 January 2005 February 2005 March 2005 April 2005 May 2005 Import Truckloads 2,919 2,749 5,340 5,994 6,769 Export Truckloads 545 551 957 916 1,107 Figures provided by Palestinian Ministry of Civil Affairs
Table 4: Daily average number of people crossing in and out of Gaza Strip through Rafah crossing. 1 March to 4 April 5 April to 2 May 3 May to 31 May Daily average entering Rafah 279 310 370 Daily average exiting Rafah 336 286 347 Total patients entering Rafah 42 39 33 Total patients exiting Rafah 22 16 18 Figures provided by Palestinian Ministry of Civil Affairs
Key Dates Erez • 14 January: Erez crossing was closed following an attack by Palestinian militants in the Karni area that killed six Israelis. • 13 February: The crossing re-opened and there was a steady and sustained increase in the number of workers entering Israel and the Industrial Estate. • 15 and 16 May: Erez crossing and Industrial Estate opened. Karni • 14 January: Karni crossing point was closed following an attack in the area that killed six Israelis. • 7 February: Karni crossing point re-opened for the passage of agricultural goods and humanitarian assistance. • 29 March: Sufa crossing closed for incoming humanitarian containers. Rafah • 12 December 2004: Rafah crossing closed following the killing of five Israeli soldiers during an attack by Palestinian militants. • 21 January: The crossing re-opened for arrivals from Egypt. • 1 February: The crossing re-opened for departures with the exception of Palestinian men aged 16 to 35. This group could not leave the Gaza Strip since 17 April 2004 with a small number of exceptions. • 20 February: Palestinian men aged 16 to 35 were allowed to leave the Gaza Strip through Rafah.
OCHA oPt provides humanitarian information, maps and analysis through a range of services, products and briefings. It is headquartered in Jerusalem and has six filed offices: Jerusalem, Gaza, Hebron, Ramallah, Nablus and Tulkarm. Contact us for more information at email: [email protected] | Address: P.O. Box 38712 Jerusalem | Phone: +972 (0)2 5829962 / 5825853 | Fax: +972 (0)2 5825841 www.ochaopt.org Gaza Access Report - May 2005 Page 5 of 5
U N O f f i c e f o r t h e C o o r d i n a t i o n o f H u m a n i t a r i a n A f f a i r s T h e G a z a S t r i p
Siafa Pop.: Approx. 190 I S R A E L - Siafa gate opens twice daily, 7:30am and 2pm Alei Sinai - Residents between the ages of 16 to 30 years require Siafa 48 hours prior coordination to cross West Dugit The Gaza Siafa Bank Checkpoint Strip This month: - 2 May: No goods allowed entry New Nisanit N
A - 18, 19 May: Gate closed Al Qaraya al Badawiya al Maslakh Erez Industrial Site D - 29 May: Cooking gas bottles were allowed in for the Nissanit Erez Crossing R
O first time since the beginning of the month. J Beit Lahiya ISRAEL Madinat al 'Awda 'Izbat Beit Hanoun Northwest Netzarim Junction Beit Hanoun Pop.: Approx. 48 people Jabalia Camp - A Palestinian police checkpoint and IDF observation Ash Shati' Camp towers, monitor and control resident access Jabalia EGYPT 'Arab Maslakh Beit Lahiya
Gaza
Al Mawasi A Pop.: Approx. 5,400 E - Checkpoint opens twice daily, 8am - 1pm and 2:30pm - 5pm S
- Male residents between the ages of 16 to 25 years require Netzarim B Karni Cargo prior coordination N Netzarim Crossing A This month: E Al Zahra - 11 May: Tuffah checkpoint open between 9:30am and 11am N Al Mughraqa (Abu Middein) A - 12 May: Tuffah checkpoint closed Netzarim Junction R R Juhor ad Dik E An Nuseirat Camp T I D Al Bureij Camp E M Az Zawayda
Deir al Balah Camp Al Maghazi Camp I S R A E L Deir al Balah Al Musaddar
k Tel Katifa Kfar Darom Al-Ma'ani c Wadi as Salqa Checkpoint o Al Ma'ani Al Ma'ani l North Abu Houli b Checkpoint Pop.: Approx. 140 t - Gate opens four times daily n South Abu Houli Abu Nahiya e Netser KChaezcaknpioint City or Village m Gaza Beaches Refugee Camp l e Katif t El - Qarara Crossing Abu Nahiya Yellow Area (Palestinian areas t Gaza Cemetery (Kissufim) Pop.: Approx. 150 e Ganei Tal under Israeli security control) s Katif Airfield - Gate open 24hrs for residents f Al Qarara Inset Map Israeli Settlement t i Kfar Yam a As Sureij Israeli Settlement Area K At Tufah Checkpoint h Neve Dkalim Main & Local Road s Urban & Dirt Road u Al Mawasi (Khan Yunis) Khan Yunis Camp G Gadid Enclave Area Bani Suheila 'Abasan al Jadida (as Saghira) Khan Yunis
Gan Or Al Mawasi (RNafeawh )Pe'at Sade Bedolakh Insert Map Al Qarya as Suw ydiya Bnei Atsmon 'Abasan al Kabira Slav Qizan an Najjar IDF - Controlled Abu Houli Junction Rafi'akh YamTall as Sultan Checkpoint The major junction dividing north - south movement Morag Qa' al Kharaba Qa' al Qurein Khuza'a Umm Kameil
Tal as Sultan Umm al Kilab Tel Katifa Al Fukhkhari Kfar Darom Wadi as Salqa P Rafah Camp h t P e i a e Al Ma'ani Morag-Sufa le r l s t a t Junction in S ia n d n i R D e o l Rafah a E l er Road d p Al Bayuk Settl h la North Abu Ho li h a S i Checkp oint
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Rafah Crossing Sufa Crossing
C Shokat as Sufi Netser Khazani
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d a p South Abu Holi z a o i a -
G n n o o ti Checkp oint N ( s Se r ttle E G Y P T le r Ro a ad P Katif Israeli Screening Area I S R A E L
Al Qarara Cartography: OCHA - oPt updated June 2005
A Closures - July 2004 Base data: PA MoPIC, July 2000, OCHA update 2005 H For comments contact
0 2 4 8 C Tel. +972 (02) 582-9962 Israeli movement Road gate Earth mound
O Observation tower Kilometers http://www.ochaopt.org
The des ignations employed and the pres entation of m aterial on this map do not imply the expr ess ion of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations c oncer ning the legal status of any countr y, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries .