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מרכז המידע הישראלי לזכויות האדם בשטחים (ע.ר.) One Big Prison Freedom of Movement to and from the Gaza Strip on the Eve of the Disengagement Plan March 2005 Researched and written by Yehezkel Lein Data coordination by Najib Abu Rokaya, Ariana Baruch, Rim ‘Odeh, Shlomi Swissa Fieldwork by Musa Abu Hashhash, Iyad Haddad, Zaki Kahil, Karim Jubran, Mazen al-Majdalawi, ‘Abd al-Karim S’adi Assistance on legal issues by Yossi Wolfson Translated by Zvi Shulman, Shaul Vardi Edited by Rachel Greenspahn Introduction “The only thing missing in Gaza is a morning line-up,” said Abu Majid, who spent ten years in Israeli prisons, to Israeli journalist Amira Hass in 1996.1 This sarcastic comment expressed the frustration of Gaza residents that results from Israel’s rigid policy of closure on the Gaza Strip following the signing of the Oslo Agreements. The gap between the metaphor of the Gaza Strip as a prison and the reality in which Gazans live has rapidly shrunk since the outbreak of the intifada in September 2000 and the imposition of even harsher restrictions on movement. The shrinking of this gap is the subject of this report. Israel’s current policy on access into and out of the Gaza Strip developed gradually during the 1990s. The main component is the “general closure” that was imposed in 1993 on the Occupied Territories and has remained in effect ever since. Every Palestinian wanting to enter Israel, including those wanting to travel between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, needs an individual permit. In 1995, about the time of the Israeli military’s redeployment in the Gaza Strip pursuant to the Oslo Agreements, Israel built a perimeter fence, encircling the Gaza Strip and separating it from Israel. -
Gaza-Israel: the Legal and the Military View Transcript
Gaza-Israel: The Legal and the Military View Transcript Date: Wednesday, 7 October 2015 - 6:00PM Location: Barnard's Inn Hall 07 October 2015 Gaza-Israel: The Legal and Military View Professor Sir Geoffrey Nice QC General Sir Nick Parker For long enough commentators have usually assumed the Israel - Palestine armed conflict might be lawful, even if individual incidents on both sides attracted condemnation. But is that assumption right? May the conflict lack legality altogether, on one side or both? Have there been war crimes committed by both sides as many suggest? The 2014 Israeli – Gaza conflict (that lasted some 52 days and that was called 'Operation Protective Edge' by the Israeli Defence Force) allows a way to explore some of the underlying issues of the overall conflict. General Sir Nick Parker explains how he advised Geoffrey Nice to approach the conflict's legality and reality from a military point of view. Geoffrey Nice explains what conclusions he then reached. Were war crimes committed by either side? Introduction No human is on this earth as a volunteer; we are all created by an act of force, sometimes of violence just as the universe itself arrived by force. We do not leave the world voluntarily but often by the force of disease. As pressed men on earth we operate according to rules of nature – gravity, energy etc. – and the rules we make for ourselves but focus much attention on what to do when our rules are broken, less on how to save ourselves from ever breaking them. That thought certainly will feature in later lectures on prison and sex in this last year of my lectures as Gresham Professor of Law but is also central to this and the next lecture both on Israel and on parts of its continuing conflict with Gaza. -
Access to Jerusalem – New Military Order Limits West Bank Palestinian Access
February 2006 Special Focus Humanitarian Reports Humanitarian Assistance in the oPt Humanitarian Events Monitoring Issues Special Focus: Access to Jerusalem – New Military Order Limits West Bank Palestinian Access As the Barrier nears completion around Jerusalem, recent Israeli The eight other crossings are less time-consuming - drivers and their military orders further restrict West Bank Palestinian pedestrian and passengers generally drive through a checkpoint encountering only vehicle access into Jerusalem.1 These orders integrate the Barrier random ID checks. crossing regime into the closure system and limit West Bank Palestinian traffic into Jerusalem to four Barrier crossings (see map Reduced access to religious sites: below): Qalandiya from the north, Gilo from the south2, Shu’fat camp The ability of the Muslim and Christian communities in the West from the east and Ras Abu Sbeitan (Olive) for pedestrian residents Bank to freely access holy sites in Jerusalem is an additional of Abu Dis, and Al ‘Eizariya.3 concern. With these orders, for example, all three major routes between Jerusalem and Bethlehem (Tunnel road, original Road 60 Currently, there are 12 routes and crossings to enter Jerusalem from (Gilo) and Ein Yalow) will be blocked for Palestinian use. the West Bank including the four in the Barrier (see detailed map Christian and Muslim residents of Bethlehem and the surrounding attached). The eight other routes and crossing points into Jerusalem, villages will in the future access Jerusalem through one barrier now closed to West Bank Palestinians, will remain open to residents crossing and only if a permit has been obtained from the Israeli Civil of Israel including those living in settlements, persons of Jewish Administration. -
Protection of Civilians Weekly Report
U N I TOCHA E D Weekly N A Report: T I O 21N MarchS – 27 March 2007 N A T I O N S| 1 U N I E S OFFICE FOR THE COORDINATION OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS P.O. Box 38712, East Jerusalem, Phone: (+972) 2-582 9962 / 582 5853, Fax: (+972) 2-582 5841 [email protected], www.ochaopt.org Protection of Civilians Weekly Report 21 March – 27 March 2007 Of note this week Five Palestinians, including three children, were killed and more than 35 injured when sand barriers of a wastewater collection pool collapsed flooding the nearby Bedouin Village and al Nasser area in the northern Gaza Strip with sewage water. Extensive property damage and destruction resulted and a temporary relief camp was sheltering approximately 1,450 people. West Bank: − The PA health sector strike continues for more than one month in the West Bank. Employees of the health sector staged a sit-in in front of Alia Governmental Hospital in Hebron to protest the government’s inability to pay employees’ salaries. In Bethlehem, all municipality workers went on a one-day strike to protest non-payment of their salaries over the past four months. − Clashes at Qalandiya checkpoint (Jerusalem) have occurred on a regular basis on Friday afternoons following the construction work by Israel at the Mughrabi gate in the Old City area. This week, Palestinians threw Molotov cocktails and stones at IDF soldiers who responded with live rounds injuring one Palestinian. Gaza Strip − 18 homemade rockets, three of which detonated in a Palestinian area, and a Rocket Propelled Grenade (RPG) were fired at an IDF observation post east of Al Maghazi Camp. -
The Humanitarian Monitor CAP Occupied Palestinian Territory Number 3 July 2006
The Humanitarian Monitor CAP occupied Palestinian territory Number 3 July 2006 The humanitarian situation in the West Bank and Gaza Strip deteriorated rapidly in 2006. This is the result of the fiscal crisis facing the Palestinian Authority (PA) following the election of the Hamas movement in the Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC) elections and increased Israeli security and access restrictions. The deteriorating situation led UN agencies and NGOs participating in the 2006 emergency Appeal to produce a monthly report to monitor changes according to key humanitarian indicators in the following sectors: health, child protection and psychosocial support, education, food security, agriculture, water and sanitation and job creation and cash assistance. This report uses a combination of measurable humanitarian indicators and verified field observations. These two data collection methods can provide different accounts of the situation. The humanitarian indicators reveal longer-term changes and trends from one month to another. Field observations show early signs of strain that may indicate future changes in the situation more generally. Under the Fourth Geneva Convention, Israel as the occupying power bears the responsibility for the welfare of the Palestinian population. In recent years, international donors and the PA have in practical terms taken on this role. The Government of Israel (GoI) is also under an obligation to transfer VAT taxes and customs duties that it collects on behalf of the PA under the Paris Protocol (1994) which amounts to roughly US$60 million per month or roughly 50% of PA revenues. The GoI has withheld these VAT and customs transfers since the PLC elections in January. -
B'tselem and Hamoked Report: One Big Prison
One Big Prison Freedom of Movement to and from the Gaza Strip on the Eve of the Disengagement Plan March 2005 One Big Prison Freedom of Movement to and from the Gaza Strip on the Eve of the Disengagement Plan March 2005 Researched and written by Yehezkel Lein Data coordination by Najib Abu Rokaya, Ariana Baruch, Reem ‘Odeh, Shlomi Swissa Fieldwork by Musa Abu Hashhash, Iyad Haddad, Zaki Kahil, Karim Jubran, Mazen al-Majdalawi, ‘Abd al-Karim S’adi Assistance on legal issues by Yossi Wolfson Translated by Zvi Shulman, Shaul Vardi Edited by Rachel Greenspahn Cover photo: Palestinians wait for relatives at Rafah Crossing (Muhammad Sallem, Reuters) ISSN 0793-520X B’TSELEM - The Israeli Center for Human Rights HaMoked: Center for the Defence of in the Occupied Territories was founded in 1989 by a the Individual, founded by Dr. Lotte group of lawyers, authors, academics, journalists, and Salzberger is an Israeli human rights Knesset members. B’Tselem documents human rights organization founded in 1988 against the abuses in the Occupied Territories and brings them to backdrop of the first intifada. HaMoked is the attention of policymakers and the general public. Its designed to guard the rights of Palestinians, data are based on independent fieldwork and research, residents of the Occupied Territories, official sources, the media, and data from Palestinian whose liberties are violated as a result of and Israeli human rights organizations. Israel's policies. Introduction “The only thing missing in Gaza is a morning Since the beginning of the occupation, line-up,” said Abu Majid, who spent ten Palestinians traveling from the Gaza Strip to years in Israeli prisons, to Israeli journalist Egypt through the Rafah crossing have needed Amira Hass in 1996.1 This sarcastic comment a permit from Israel. -
Great Return March": Demonstrations of April 27, 2018, and Continuation
רמה כ ז מל ו תשר מה ו ד י ע י ן ה ש ל מ רמה כ ז מל ( ( ו למ תשר מ" מה ו ד י ע י ן ה ש ל מ ( ( למ מ" ¶ The “Great Return March": Demonstrations of April 27, 2018, and continuation to be expected April 29, 2018 Palestinians cutting the security fence near the Karni crossing (IDF Spokesperson’s Office, April 27, 2018) Incidents on Friday, April 27 Overview On Friday, April 27, 2018, the fifth Friday of the demonstrations of the "Great Return March," riots took place along the Gaza border with Israel. An estimated 10,000 Palestinians participated in the incidents in five focal points. The events of last Friday included many acts of violence, the most serious of which was an attempt to break through the fence and penetrate into Israel in the Karni crossing area. In view of the blatant attempt to violate Israel’s sovereignty, the IDF spokesperson announced a new policy of response, in which every violent activity would be met with violent activity against Hamas. As part of this policy, Israel Air Force aircraft attacked six targets of Hamas’s naval force. The acts of violence on the last Friday came into expression in several ways: throwing stones and rocks; throwing IEDs and hand grenades at IDF soldiers; flying kites over Israeli territory with burning objects attached to them (some of the kites caused fires in Israel and extensive damage); sabotaging the security fence along the border and the barbed wire close to it (including two incidents of setting fire to the fence, pulling the fence and attempts to cut it). -
Protection of Civilians Weekly Report
U N I T E D N A T I O N S N A T I O N S U N I E S OCHA Weekly Report: 4 – 10 July 2007 | 1 OFFICE FOR THE COORDINATION OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS P.O. Box 38712, East Jerusalem, Phone: (+972) 2-582 9962 / 582 5853, Fax: (+972) 2-582 5841 [email protected], www.ochaopt.org Protection of Civilians Weekly Report 4 – 10 July 2007 Of note this week Gaza Strip: • The IDF killed 11 Palestinians, injured 15, and arrested 70 during its incursion into the area southeast of Al Bureij Camp (Central Gaza). In addition, three Palestinians were injured, including a 15-year-old boy, during IDF military operations southeast of Beit Hanoun. • A total of 23 Qassam rockets and 33 mortar shells were fired from Gaza towards Israel, of which at least four rockets and 29 mortar shells targeted Kerem Shalom crossing. Five rockets landed in the Palestinian area. Hamas and Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility. No injuries were reported. • The Palestinian Ministry of Health confirmed that it has returned at least 25 corpses to Gaza via Kerem Shalom since the closure of Rafah until 5 July. In all cases, the persons had passed away in Egyptian or other overseas hospitals and not at the border. • Senior Palestinian traders were able to cross Erez crossing this week for the first time since 12 June. Humanitarian assistance continues to enter Gaza through Kerem Shalom and Sufa. Critical medical cases with special coordination arrangements exited through Erez. Karni was open on two days for the crossing of wheat and wheat grain. -
Advance Edited Version
A ADVANCE EDITED Distr. VERSION GENERAL A/HRC/4/17 29 January 2007 Original: ENGLISH HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL Fourth session Item 2 of the provisional agenda IMPLEMENTATION OF GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLUTION 60/251 OF 15 MARCH 2006 ENTITLED “HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL” Report of the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories occupied since 1967, John Dugard* * The report was submitted after the deadline so as to include the most recent developments. A/HRC/4/17 page 2 Summary Gaza has again been the focus of violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT). In response to the capture of Corporal Gilad Shalit by Palestinian militants on 25 June 2006, and the continued firing of Qassam rockets into Israel, Israel conducted two major military operations within Gaza - “Operation Summer Rains” and “Operation Autumn Clouds”. In the course of these operations, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) made repeated military incursions into Gaza, accompanied by heavy artillery shelling and air-to-surface missile attacks. Missiles, shells and bulldozers destroyed or damaged homes, schools, hospitals, mosques, public buildings, bridges, water pipelines and electricity networks. Agricultural lands were levelled by bulldozers. Beit Hanoun was the subject of particularly heavy attacks, and on 8 November 19 civilians were killed and 55 wounded in an artillery attack. Economic sanctions have had a major impact on Gaza. About 70 per cent of Gaza’s workforce is out of work or without pay and over 80 per cent of the population live below the official poverty line. The siege of Gaza is a form of collective punishment in violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention of 12 August 1949. -
2014 Gaza War Assessment: the New Face of Conflict
2014 Gaza War Assessment: The New Face of Conflict A report by the JINSA-commissioned Gaza Conflict Task Force March 2015 — Task Force Members, Advisors, and JINSA Staff — Task Force Members* General Charles Wald, USAF (ret.), Task Force Chair Former Deputy Commander of United States European Command Lieutenant General William B. Caldwell IV, USA (ret.) Former Commander, U.S. Army North Lieutenant General Richard Natonski, USMC (ret.) Former Commander of U.S. Marine Corps Forces Command Major General Rick Devereaux, USAF (ret.) Former Director of Operational Planning, Policy, and Strategy - Headquarters Air Force Major General Mike Jones, USA (ret.) Former Chief of Staff, U.S. Central Command * Previous organizational affiliation shown for identification purposes only; no endorsement by the organization implied. Advisors Professor Eliot Cohen Professor of Strategic Studies, Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies, Johns Hopkins University Lieutenant Colonel Geoffrey Corn, USA (ret.) Presidential Research Professor of Law, South Texas College of Law, Houston JINSA Staff Dr. Michael Makovsky Chief Executive Officer Dr. Benjamin Runkle Director of Programs Jonathan Ruhe Associate Director, Gemunder Center for Defense and Strategy Maayan Roitfarb Programs Associate Ashton Kunkle Gemunder Center Research Assistant . — Table of Contents — 2014 GAZA WAR ASSESSMENT: Executive Summary I. Introduction 7 II. Overview of 2014 Gaza War 8 A. Background B. Causes of Conflict C. Strategies and Concepts of Operations D. Summary of Events -
General Assembly Distr.: General 3 October 2001 English Original: English/French
United Nations A/56/428 General Assembly Distr.: General 3 October 2001 English Original: English/French Fifty-sixth session Agenda item 88 Report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories Report of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories Note by the Secretary-General* The General Assembly, at its fifty-fifth session, adopted resolution 55/130 on the work of the Special Committee to Investigate Israeli Practices Affecting the Human Rights of the Palestinian People and Other Arabs of the Occupied Territories, in which, among other matters, it requested the Special Committee: (a) Pending complete termination of the Israeli occupation, to continue to investigate Israeli policies and practices in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967, especially Israeli lack of compliance with the provisions of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, of 12 August 1949, and to consult, as appropriate, with the International Committee of the Red Cross according to its regulations in order to ensure that the welfare and human rights of the peoples of the occupied territories are safeguarded and to report to the Secretary- General as soon as possible and whenever the need arises thereafter; (b) To submit regularly to the Secretary-General periodic reports on the current situation in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem; (c) To continue to investigate the treatment of prisoners in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including Jerusalem, and other Arab territories occupied by Israel since 1967. -
Economic Monitoring Report to the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee
Economic Monitoring Report Public Disclosure Authorized to the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee March 19, 2018 Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized The World Bank Public Disclosure Authorized www.worldbank.org/ps 1 Table of Contents Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................................... 5 Chapter I: Recent Developments .................................................................................................................. 9 A. Economic Growth ................................................................................................................................ 9 B. Public Finance .................................................................................................................................... 11 The PA’s Fiscal Performance in 2017 ................................................................................................ 11 The 2018 Budget ................................................................................................................................. 12 C. Money and Banking ........................................................................................................................... 14 Chapter II: Gaza’s Evolution Over the Last Two Decades ......................................................................... 18 The Gaza Economy: From One Crisis to The Next ................................................................................ 18 The Humanitarian