Ten Years Later On September 11, 2005, the last Israeli soldier ostensibly left the Gaza Strip. Israel’s policy ever since has condemned Gaza’s residents to a life full of uncertainty and peril, devoid of hope. It seems that many in Israel realize the mistakes that have been made. The situation can and must be rectified immediately.

In mid-August 2005, Israel began has no obligation to allow travel to and from implementing its plan to disengage from Gaza through the border crossings it Gaza. Within less than a month, on controls, and its policy on movement has September 11, 2005, its last troops exited been based on the premise that travel, when the territory. The rhetoric that ensued was granted, is an exceptional act of charity that 38 years of occupation had come to an guided by narrow criteria. In March 2006, end, but in fact, Israel has maintained Israel stopped allowing laborers from Gaza control over the movement of both people to enter Israel via Erez Crossing. Just before and goods into and out of the Gaza Strip. It the Second Intifada broke out in 2000, more prohibits travel and trade by sea and air, and than 26,000 Palestinian laborers entered prevents passage between the two parts of Israel via Erez Crossing every day. the Palestinian territory. It also controls The blanket ban on travel between Gaza and access to areas of land inside the Strip and Israel has cut off thousands of Gaza fishing access in Gaza’s own territorial residents from their relatives and denied tens waters. In this way and others, Israel of thousands job opportunities and continues to impact almost every aspect of opportunities for personal and professional life of all of Gaza’s 1.8 million residents. development. Denying travel between Gaza On paper, in statements, and in action, Israel and the West Bank is an aspect of Israel’s acknowledges the duty to prevent a “separation policy”, which is designed to humanitarian disaster in Gaza, but it does separate the two parts of the Palestinian not regard itself as committed to doing territory. The result is not just a violation of anything above the minimum required to individual rights, but also an impediment to keep such a disaster at bay. Since Hamas economic, social and cultural development took over internal control in the Gaza Strip in the Palestinian territory as a whole, which in 2007, Israel has enforced a tight closure, are basic conditions for exercising the right including further restricting movement of to self-determination. people and goods. The closure has prevented Because of the severe restrictions imposed development and impacted innocent on travel of people between Gaza and Israel, civilians in Gaza, and beyond that, by travel from Gaza to third countries takes unraveling Gaza’s economy, has stunted place mainly through Rafah Crossing, which growth in the Palestinian territory as a is controlled by Egypt. However, since the whole. regime change in Egypt in 2013, passage Restrictions on movement of people through the crossing is severely restricted and the crossing itself remains mostly Since the implementation of the disengagement plan, Israel contends that it

closed, thus further exacerbating Gaza’s abroad, and most of those as part of a isolation from the world. subsidized project rather than reflecting actual economic activity. In November Restrictions on movement of goods 2014, after Operation Protective Edge and Currently, all commercial transit of goods the destruction it left in its wake, Israel takes place via Kerem Shalom Crossing, began allowing certain products from Gaza which is controlled by Israel. Egypt does not to be sold in the West Bank and in March allow cross border commerce via the 2015 began allowing limited sale of Egyptian-controlled Rafah crossing.The tomatoes and eggplants in Israel. The closure of the Sufa and Nahal Oz crossings permission to sell these specific items in (in 2007 and 2010 respectively) and the Israel came as a special measure for closure of Karni (in 2007 and its conveyer “shmita”, a year during which, according to belt in 2011) thus left Kerem Shalom as Jewish custom, farmland cultivated by Gaza’s sole commercial crossing. Jewish farmers is left to lay fallow. Given ongoing restrictions and quotas on exit of Israel’s policy on entrance of goods to Gaza goods, as well as the complex requirements has undergone several changes over the last and thus costs involved in transporting decade. In the years following Hamas’ rise goods, sales remain limited and have to power in Gaza, between 2007-2010, Israel provided only a small measure of financial restricted entrance of goods to Gaza to a list benefit to few people. of several dozen types of items. After the flotilla incident of May 2010 and the public Restrictions on movement within Gaza criticism that followed, the policy changed, and its territorial waters and since July 2010, civilian goods are Israel also restricts freedom of movement permitted to enter Gaza, with the exception within Gaza. Military forces and of items defined as “dual-use”, on the claim installations deployed on the Israeli side of that they can be used for military purposes the border fence make use of live fire, often as well. The list contains patently civilian with deadly results, to enforce a prohibition goods, which are critical for Gaza’s on entry into an area designated by Israel as reconstruction, infrastructure, and industry, a buffer zone. This is a strip of land including basic construction materials stretching 300 meters into Gaza’s territory, (cement, gravel and steel). Recognizing the all along its border with Israel. Farmers are need to repair the massive damage caused ostensibly permitted to work lands up to a during Operation Protective Edge, a distance of 100 meters from the fence, but mechanism was set up to allow controlled it’s unclear how the army determines who is entry of construction materials, however, the and is not a farmer. The fact that the military pace at which construction materials have presumes to distinguish between farmers entered Gaza under this mechanism meets and non-farmers without using any sort of just a fraction of the demand. coordination mechanism puts lives at risk For seven years, Israel imposed a blanket and effectively prevents farming, harming ban on the sale of Gaza-made and -grown landowners’ livelihoods and reducing goods in Israel and the West Bank, which Gaza’s overall agricultural output. were traditionally Gaza’s most important Israel allows fishing in Gaza’s territorial markets. During these years, the volume of waters up to a distance of six nautical miles goods shipped out of Gaza was miniscule, off the coast, and has occasionally restricted with just a few trucks every month going

the distance to three nautical miles only. commercial access. As a consequence, Gaza These restrictions are also often enforced developed a dependence on access to with live fire. In addition to putting lives in employment and markets in Israel and a danger, the restrictions have significantly reliance on Israel for maintaining civilian impacted livelihoods and reduced fishing infrastructure, including for its purchase of output in Gaza. fuel, electricity and water. Gaza and the West Bank, which continue to share a single A decade of mistakes economy, a single education system, a single In the decade that has passed since the healthcare system and countless familial, implementation of the disengagement plan, cultural and social ties, are also reliant on violence has spiraled in three major Israel to allow passage between the two escalations. The years of closure have areas. weakened moderates in Gaza and have With the implementation of the clearly not improved the security of Israeli disengagement plan, Israeli authorities residents in surrounding communities. More propagated the position that Gaza is an than 70% of Gaza’s population receives independent entity, separate from both Israel humanitarian aid and about 57% suffer from and the West Bank and that Israel no longer food insecurity. Gaza’s unemployment rate bears any responsibilities toward its is over 40% - and is nearly 60% among residents. This position is categorically young people. Gaza’s economic stagnation false. is such that its current GDP is lower than it was twenty years ago. All this, in addition to Gaza’s dependence on Israel and Israel’s severe shortages in electricity and clean control over Gaza result in a duty on Israel’s drinking water and grave need for improved part to do whatever it can, subject to civilian infrastructure, hundreds of schools legitimate security considerations, to allow and tens of thousands of homes. Gaza’s residents to lead normal lives. A decade after the disengagement, the time has Israel does not bear sole responsibility for come to reverse the tragic mistakes that have this dire situation, but decisions it made in been made, including first and foremost, the years before and after the disengagement ongoing, unacceptable and unnecessary have played a key role in producing and restrictions on movement. Instead, Israel maintaining it. Prior to the disengagement, should adopt a strategy based on generating Israel failed to invest in developing hope for the people of the region – infrastructure in Gaza, destroyed its seaport Palestinians and Israelis alike. and airport, and has prevented independent

Gaza Fact Check: 10 myths for 10 years of disengagement Ten years ago, Israel removed its settlements and military installations from inside the Gaza Strip; a move that remains controversial in Israel to this day and continues to shape the lives of millions of people. The “Disengagement Plan”, as it was called, was the most dramatic step in Israel’s policy toward the Gaza Strip in the last few decades, and as such, gave rise to more than a few myths and misconceptions. These are the 10 most prominent myths, together with an account of reality. 1. Israel disengaged from Gaza (and all it has chosen to address them is wreaking got in return were rockets). havoc on the lives of the 1.8 million people living in Gaza - a majority of whom are In a nutshell: Israel controls Gaza’s children - and it is failing to provide territorial waters, air space and most of its security to the residents of southern Israel. border crossings. This isn’t disengagement, In fact, security experts have acknowledged just remote control. that not only has the closure failed to When the last Israeli soldier serving in the advance Israel’s security, but rather, it is one Gaza Strip exited the territory, on September of the main drivers of instability in the 11, 2005, a key feature of Israel’s presence region. in the lives of Gaza residents came to an 2. Gaza is under siege: No one enters, no end. Yet, Israel maintained control of all one leaves. crossings along its border with Gaza, as well as Gaza’s territorial waters and air space. In a nutshell: Both Israel and Egypt allow Israel continues to control the majority of Palestinians to travel to and from Gaza, in supply of water, electricity and fuel to Gaza. theory, but the question is how difficult it is, It controls cellular and electronic who is eligible, and more importantly, who communication lines and a portion of Gaza’s isn’t. territory, inside the Strip, in an area the Both Israel and Egypt allow Palestinians to military designates a “no-go zone”. Israeli enter and exit Gaza through their respective politicians discuss among themselves territories, in theory. The number of exits by whether to allow Gaza residents to build and Palestinians through the Israeli-controlled operate a seaport. Israel allows the entry of Erez Crossing has been gradually increasing construction materials designated for Gaza’s since September 2014, with a current reconstruction, but under condition that it average of 18,000 exits per month, more approve every single purchase. It has used than triple the monthly average before Gaza’s fishing zone as a bargaining chip in Operation Protective Edge. But, these every ceasefire negotiation at the cessation numbers are still negligible compared to of hostilities, and refuses to even engage in a need, and represent about 4% of the travel conversation about the rebuilding of Gaza’s volume through Erez in the summer of the airport, which lays in ruins after being year 2000. Egypt occasionally opens Rafah bombed in 2001 (and 2009). Crossing for a few days at a time for travel As for rockets, regrettably, communities in in both directions of pre-approved southern Israel have been suffering from categories: Medical patients with referrals to rocket fire since 2001, when Israel had a Egyptian hospitals, students, and people permanent ground presence in Gaza. Israel with foreign passports or residency. is facing real security threats. But the way it

In theory, it is possible to enter and exit to build new homes in Gaza, partly because Gaza. The question is how difficult it is, Israel could not reach an agreement with the who is eligible, and more importantly, who Palestinian Authority about the formula for isn’t. Egypt may have opened Rafah bringing in construction materials for new Crossing for a few days just recently, but the homes. The quantity of construction crossing has remained closed most of this materials that has come into Gaza since the year, and only a fraction of those wishing to mechanism was put in place has met just travel manage to cross when it opens. In 10% of need in the Strip. A recent ban on addition, while the number of exits through the entry of wood planks is making matters Erez Crossing has risen in recent months, worse for the construction sector and the criteria for travel remain exceedingly threatens to destroy the furniture industry. narrow and most Palestinians do not meet Besides that, rehabilitating the Strip isn’t them. Some merchants are able to receive just about rebuilding, it’s about allowing life exit permits under certain conditions, but to go on and flourish. ordinary Palestinians have to develop a serious illness, or wait for a first-degree 4. What about Egypt’s responsibilities relative in the West Bank or Israel to toward Gaza? People can just travel via become seriously ill, marry or die, for their Rafah. permit application to even be considered. In a nutshell: Israel’s closure of Erez turned Sometimes even Palestinians who do meet Rafah Crossing into Gaza’s main gateway to these criteria do not receive a permit or have the outside world, but, although Egypt to cut through gruelling red tape and meet hardly allows the movement of people and the requirements of procedures and goods through the crossing, it still bears less regulations, many of which have never been responsibility to allow passage than Israel. published. Israel’s closure of the Gaza Strip, the ban 3. Israel is rebuilding Gaza. Israel imposes on sea and air travel and the severe restrictions on movement through the In a nutshell: Israel allows Gaza residents crossings it controls, have blocked off Gaza to purchase construction materials, under and turned Egypt into Gaza’s main gateway restrictive conditions. to the rest of the world. This situation does In June 2015, at the Herzliya Conference, impose some degree of responsibility on Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu Egypt and Egypt is far from fulfilling it. said (Hebrew): “If anyone is rebuilding Rafah Crossing is seldom opened and Gaza it is Israel”. The facts, unfortunately, thousands of people are on waiting lists to suggest otherwise. Israel is not rebuilding travel at the next available chance. Still, the Gaza. It is allowing construction materials, control Israel has actively exercised over bought and paid for by others, to enter under civilian life in Gaza (as described in Myth narrow conditions. The materials enter Gaza #1) throughout the years, and the only with Israeli authorization and under dependence this has created, enhance United Nations supervision, which renders Israel’s obligations to allow Gaza residents reconstruction efforts difficult and costly. In to lead normal lives. fact, it took almost a year from the time the mechanism for coordinating the entry of 5. Gaza chose Hamas. construction materials into Gaza was In a nutshell: It wasn’t just Gaza that established before authorization was given elected Hamas in 2006 and most Gaza Strip

residents were too young to have taken part 7. Israel gives Gaza electricity, water and in the elections anyway. food. Hamas won the majority of parliamentary In a nutshell: Israel does not give. It sells. seats in the Palestinian legislature in the Israel sells Gaza electricity, water and food. 2006 election, but it did so throughout the It does not give these out for free. By the Palestinian territory, in the West Bank and way, as far as electricity goes, despite the east Jerusalem too. A year later, Hamas took rumours, Gaza owes nothing to the Israel over Gaza by force, and continues to rule the electrical company, unlike the situation with Strip de facto to this day. electricity sold to the West Bank. All Gaza About two-thirds of Gaza’s population is electricity debts are paid with Palestinian under the age of 24, meaning that they taxpayer money. Additionally, not all the would have been too young to vote in the water Israel purports to sell the Gaza Strip 2006 election anyway, or that they had not actually gets there, and in any event, the even been born yet. Elections have not been amount of water and electricity Israel does held since. Given that the majority of Gaza’s sell Gaza are far from meeting residents’ residents are children (that’s over 900,000 needs. children), this also raises questions about their, and other innocent civilian’s 8. Gaza could have been Singapore but culpability for the actions of militants. chose to be Hamastan instead. In a nutshell: Want a thriving economy in 6. The Gaza Strip and the West Bank are Gaza? Remove the restrictions on freedom two completely separate entities and have of movement. no connection to one another. Severe restrictions on movement were In a nutshell: Despite the political divide, imposed on Gaza residents even before Gaza and the West Bank share national, Hamas took control in June 2007. Recall social, cultural, familial and economic ties. that one of the initial goals of the closure The claim that there is no connection was, officially, economic warfare and that between Gaza and the West Bank is based Israel continues to impose a slew of on the political and geographic divide movement restrictions on Gaza that between the two areas, but it ignores a rather seriously impede the development of a long list of facts. A few examples: About a functioning, let alone thriving, economy. quarter of Gaza residents have relatives in While some of restrictions have been the West Bank. The Gaza Strip and the West reversed (like the infamous ban on civilian Bank have been recognized as a single goods such as coriander and chocolate), and territorial unit both by Israel (in the Oslo others have been partially removed (the ban Accords) and the international community. on the sale of Gaza-made and -produced Despite the political divide, the Palestinian goods in the West Bank has been replaced Authority and its representatives are an with a list of restrictions that render trade inseparable part of life in Gaza in many too costly), other restrictions have been ways. They pay Gaza’s electricity bill and added. A position paper we published this liaise between its residents and Israel, just year assessed the economic potential of the name a few. Palestinian territory, with the main conclusion being that the West Bank and the

Gaza Strip need each other if there is to be

any realistic hope of a flourishing 10. All restrictions Israel imposed on Palestinian economy. Without access to its Gaza are a matter of security. natural markets in Israel and the West Bank, In a nutshell: Travel restrictions apply to without ports, and with harsh restrictions on people against whom there are no security travel of people, the concept of a new allegations, and the security logic behind the Singapore in Gaza will remain a distant current restrictions on the movement of dream. goods is difficult to grasp. 9. There is only poverty and suffering in A Palestinian who wants to travel from Gaza Gaza. has to meet Israel’s criteria. This narrow list In a nutshell: There are millionaires in of criteria has nothing to do with security. Gaza, and a middle class too. Still, life in People against whom there are security Gaza isn’t simple and it doesn’t have to be allegations cannot cross either way. this way. Moreover, the same person may be able to exit Gaza for one reason (for example, to Gaza is poor. With a 41.5% unemployment attend a seminar in the West Bank), but rate, 57% of residents being food insecure won’t get a permit in different circumstances and more than 70% relying on humanitarian (if, for instance, she wants to study medicine aid, it’s hard to deny this fact. Yet, every in the West Bank). once in a while, someone rediscovers the fact that Gaza has malls and markets, hotels It is also very difficult to explain some of and swimming pools, and these images go Israel’s prohibitions on the entry of goods viral online. Bursting the bubble for those into Gaza. Israel now allows construction who only see Gaza as a caricature of a materials to enter Gaza under tight control. humanitarian crisis is obviously quite easy, This creates a shortage of construction but Gaza is much more than that. Yes, there materials in Gaza, which in turn, gives rise are a few millionaires in Gaza, and a small to a lucrative black market. While cement, middle class. There are students, gravel and steel can enter under certain intellectuals, artists, doctors and other conditions, Israel is currently not allowing professionals. Some shop in the markets. wood planks to enter, claiming they may be Some can even afford to stay at a hotel. The used to build tunnels. fact that these people exist does not erase the If there were a security explanation for all hardship and the distress and cannot make these restrictions, Israel’s Ministry of unemployment, which is as high as 60% Defense has yet to provide it. And even if among young people, go away. What this there were such an explanation, measures gap does do is offer a glimpse into what that cause serious harm to a large population Gaza could be, if only given the chance. cannot be justified by whatever marginal contribution they make to security. Ten years after disengagement, Israel still limits

family ties, trade, academic studies, fishing and agriculture in the Gaza Strip. It’s time for a change.

A decade since disengagement, a decade of bad policy choices Though Israel removed its permanent military presence inside the Gaza Strip in September of 2005, it continues to impact almost every aspect of civilian life there, mostly through its control over movement of people and goods to and from the territory. Some of the restrictions imposed on movement and access date back to the early nineties. Some restrictions began in 2000 after the start of the Second Intifada and have remained in place ever since, such as the ban on travel to the West Bank for the purpose of academic study and the refusal to update address changes for Gaza residents who relocated to the West Bank. These are some of the milestones of Israel’s policy on access and movement toward Gaza over the last decade.

2005: Israel implements the known as the Gaza closure. Israel closes “Disengagement Plan”, removing Karni Crossing, Gaza’s main commercial settlements and military installations from crossing, leaving only a conveyer belt used inside the Gaza Strip. A strip of land for transporting grain and animal feed, running along the Gaza-Israel border and which continues to operate until March comprising about 17% of Gaza’s territory is 2011. Israel forbids shipment of goods declared a “buffer zone” and deemed off- outside Gaza and restricts goods entering it, limits to Palestinians. With American including civilian goods that are considered mediation, the Agreement on Movement and “luxuries items”, such as coriander, Access (AMA) is signed. The AMA is chocolate and toys. In September, it declares designed to ensure the operation of the Gaza “a hostile entity”. Israel uses Rafah Crossing, the Gaza-Egypt border mathematical formulas to calculate the crossing, as well as truck and bus convoys minimum amount of food Gaza residents between Gaza and the West Bank. Rafah need to consume in order to avoid a Crossing is opened, but Israel never allows humanitarian crisis, and enforces restrictions the convoys to operate. on the amount of fuel and electricity 2006: Hamas wins a majority of seats in entering the Strip as well. The fishing zone elections for the Palestinian legislature held is reduced to three nautical miles off the in the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the shoreline. Gaza Strip. In March, Israel bans laborers 2008: Second year of Gaza closure. As part from Gaza from entering its territory, and of the terms reached in a temporary cease- later initiates a policy that allows travel only fire agreement with Hamas, Israel allows a in “exceptional humanitarian cases”. In 25% increase in the volume of humanitarian June, after Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit is goods entering Gaza. Other restrictions captured by militants in Gaza, Israel remain in place. Over the course of the year, launches Operation Summer Rains and Israel openly refers to the closure as a means bombs Gaza’s sole power plant. Rafah of putting pressure on Hamas, and the entry Crossing is shut down, opening only rarely of goods into Gaza, including fuel, is often for humanitarian needs. Israel limits fishing stopped in response to rocket fire. The off the Gaza coastline to a distance of no cease-fire collapses at the end of the year more than six nautical miles from shore. and Operation Cast Lead is launched. 2007: The Palestinian unity government 2009: Third year of Gaza closure. Operation collapses and Hamas takes control of Gaza Cast Lead, during which Gaza’s power by force in June. Israel launches a policy of station and high tension electricity lines what it calls “economic warfare”, also were bombed and the amount of fuel

entering Gaza was reduced below the most of the tunnels between its territory and “minimum humanitarian” bar set by Israel, the Gaza Strip and shuts down Rafah ends in January. Fuel shortages impede Crossing with increasing frequency. Israel operations at Gaza’s power station, partially allows in construction materials for the repaired since being bombed in 2006. Water private sector for several weeks, but after a and sewer infrastructure is also damaged. tunnel leading from Gaza to the kibbutz Israel publishes a procedure setting out community of Ein Hashlosha inside Israel is conditions under which Palestinians from discovered, Israel imposes a complete ban Gaza can relocate to the West Bank for on the entry of construction materials into family unification, however these are so Gaza, as a result of which the construction stringent that no one can meet them. sector in Gaza collapses and unemployment 2010: Fourth year of Gaza closure. After the soars. Later, Israel allows international Israeli navy raid on a flotilla to Gaza goes organizations to bring in construction awry, Israel cancels most restrictions on materials. The Israeli Ministry of Defense goods entering Gaza, with the exception of orders the closure of Gaza crossings in goods it defines as “dual use”, including response to rocket fire on several occasions. construction materials. Export abroad is 2014: Eighth year of Gaza closure. On July slightly expanded, but the ban on selling 8, 50 days of intense fighting, known as Gaza-made and -grown goods in the West Operation Protective Edge, begins. In its Bank and Israel remains in place. Senior aftermath, Israel allows limited sale of merchants from Gaza are permitted to enter Gaza-made and -grown goods in the West Israel and the West Bank, subject to quotas. Bank for the first time in seven years. Some Egypt opens Rafah Crossing on a regular changes in policy take place allowing more basis, expanding travel through the border family visits to the West Bank and elderly crossing in the years to come. Muslims from Gaza to travel to Jerusalem 2011: Fifth year of Gaza closure. Israel for Friday prayers. Following an attack in announces it will update the addresses of the Sinai desert, Egypt tightens travel 5,000 Palestinians who had moved from restrictions at the Rafah border crossing. A Gaza to the West Bank as a diplomatic mechanism is instituted to facilitate Gaza’s gesture, which is never fully fulfilled. reconstruction, allowing for controlled entry Operation Pillar of Defense begins. of construction materials into the Strip. 2012: Sixth year of Gaza closure. The cease- Despite this, the construction materials fire agreement reached by Israel and Hamas shortage persists and a black market after Operation Pillar of Defense is never develops. formally made public, but Israel increases 2015: Ninth year of Gaza closure. Israel the fishing zone to six nautical miles off the allows limited sale of produce from Gaza in shoreline and announces farmers will be Israel for the Jewish year of shmita, during able to approach to a distance of up to 100m which observant Jews must allow from the border. After the Muslim agricultural lands to lay fallow. Travel Brotherhood comes to power in Egypt, between Gaza and Egypt is severely limited Rafah Crossing operations are significantly during the first eight months of the year. expanded and trade through the tunnels Israel bans the entry of wood planks more between the Sinai desert and Gaza reaches than one centimeter thick, claiming they new heights. may be used for tunnel building, leading to a 2013: Seventh year of Gaza closure. A crisis in the construction and furniture- change of regime in Egypt. Egypt destroys manufacturing sectors.