Israel´s response on appeals to Open Rafah Border end Gaza siege

Palestinian Human Rights Organizations: Gaza: Urgent appeal to Open Rafah Border

Monday, 10 March 2014, The Palestinian Human Rights Organizations Council is deeply concerned about the continued deterioration of living condition of the Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip as a result of Israel’s denial and negligence of its legal obligations towards civilians and its continuation of imposing collective punishment on the Gaza Strip for more than 7 years.

The council strongly condemns the ongoing closure imposed by Israel on the Gaza Strip and its serious impacts on all life aspects of Palestinian civilians. The council also renews its call upon the international community to intervene immediately to lift the closure, open all border crossings to facilitate the movement of Palestinians from and to the Gaza Strip, and ensure the freedom of trade.

Thus, the council calls upon Egypt to open the Rafah Crossing, which has been closed for a month, to alleviate the suffering of Palestinians due to the Israeli practices and violations of the international humanitarian law and human rights law against the Gaza Strip population.

Israel has tightened its closure of the Gaza Strip border crossings, including Beit Hanoun “Erez” crossing for 7 years. As a result, 1.8 Palestinians have been denied their right to freedom of movement to and from the Gaza Strip. 

Moreover, this policy has deteriorated the conditions of thousands of Palestinians, including hundreds of patients who need advanced medical treatment which is not available in the Gaza Strip, persons who work in other countries, Palestinian families living in other countries and university students who study abroad, have not been able to travel abroad.

The Palestinian Human Rights Organizations Council reiterates that the Gaza Strip is still under the Israeli tightened closure, which is considered a form of collective punishment, and impacts severely on all life aspects of Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip

The council further emphasized that the Gaza Strip is part of the occupied Palestinian territory and reminds Israel as an occupying power of its obligation towards the population of the occupied territory according the international law. This includes taking all the necessary measures to facilitate the movement of people and goods.

Thus, Israeli forces must end the illegal closure immediately. The international community must also pressurize the Israeli authorities to open Beit Hanoun “Erez” crossing, the sole outlet between the Gaza Strip and West Bank, including Occupied Jerusalem. This would enable the Gaza Strip civilians to move freely between the Palestinian cities and the outside world.

The Palestinian Human Rights Organizations Council, which signed this appeal, takes into consideration the situation in Egypt, but is concerned over the deterioration of humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip. Based on the strong ties between Egyptians and Palestinians and the historical role played by Egypt in supporting the Palestinian cause and particularly the Gaza Strip, the council further:

1. Calls upon Egypt Authorities to open the Rafah crossing, which has been closed for a month, and stop the deterioration of the conditions of the Gaza Strip population due to the total closure imposed on the Gaza Strip;

2. To take the necessary measures to ensure opening the crossing normally before the movement of the Palestinian civilians from and to the Gaza Strip and put an end to their suffering;

3. Calls upon the international community to pressurize the Israeli authorities to stop the policy of collective punishment against the population of the Gaza Strip and immediately open all border crossings to put an end to the serious deterioration of the humanitarian conditions of the civilian population; and

4. Calls upon the Israeli authorities to comply with international humanitarian law, especially the Fourth Geneva Convention, including finding a prompt solution to ensure the freedom of movement of Palestinian civilians through Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing regularly and safely, and to establish a clear system ensuring the freedom of movement of the population of the Gaza Strip and safe passage and flow of the population’s needs through commercial crossings.

Sinai militant said to be behind 2011 attack in Israel killed by own bomb

Tawfiq Mohammed Freij, one of founders of Sinai militant group Ansar Beit al-Maqdis, was responsible for cross-border attack that killed eight Israelis, group claims. Egypt's most active militant group says that one of its founding leaders was killed when a bomb he was carrying was set off by a car accident.

haaretz-Sinai militant said to be behind 2011 attack in Israel killed by own bomb

10 March 2014, Pchrgaza.org - Gaza: Urgent appeal to Open Rafah Border
12 March, 2014, Israel bombards coastal enclave under siege with multiple airstrikes

3-year-old dies due to closure of Rafah crossing
Palestinian teen in critical condition after being shot by Israeli soldiers in West Bank
12-year-old crushed to death by iron door in Hebron village

Gaza's only power plant 'shuts down for lack of fuel'
Jordanian companies enter $500 million deal for Israel gas
California Gov signs energy pact with Netanyahu
Israeli and Egyptian warships shoot at Palestinian fishermen near Egypt's sea border

UN Peace envoy urges investigation into the killing of Palestinians
Amnesty: Israeli “wilful killings in West Bank amount to war crimes”
Trigger-happy’ Israeli army and police use reckless force in the West Bank
Israel is shooting Palestinians
PLO, PA denounce 'extrajudicial' Israeli killings

UN needs more than 'concern' over murder of Palestinians
Celebrities Press U.N. on Palestinian Refugees in Syria

#Yarmouk
War crimes, starvation, deaths. 60 percent of Yarmouk residents suffering from malnutrition
12th day of no food distributions in Yarmouk Sign up, adressed to the Security Council
Red Crescent pharmacist shot dead in Yarmouk camp
Gaza: 65% of families are expected to be food insecure by the end of the year
Gaza - deaths by deprivation
Gaza - deaths by deprivation, II
https://twitter.com/IHHen

List of 287 Documented Israeli killings and Cease Fire Violations
Israel's provocations and killings, history of breaking ceasefires
Israeli killings and Ceasefire Violations in Gaza and World Silence
Northeastern University SJP suspended as members are subjected to police interrogation
End Gaza Siege - Are you going to watch humanity dying in Gaza by your silence
Gaza cancer patients on rise due to Israel weapons
UK - SIR Gerald Kaufman, Jewish MP - On Israel War Crimes in Gaza

http://www.pchrgaza.org/portal/en/