One year after Operation ‘Cast Lead’: Israel’s Gaza blockade continues to suffocate daily life

international | rights, freedoms and repression | opinion/analysis Monday January 18, 2010 11:39 by Amnesty International - Ireland - Amnesty International

Israel must end its suffocating blockade of the Gaza Strip, which has left more than 1.4 million Palestinians cut off from the outside world and struggling with desperate poverty.

Amnesty International has gathered testimony from people still struggling to rebuild their lives following Operation “Cast Lead”, which killed around 1,400 Palestinians and injured thousands more. Israel must end its suffocating blockade of the Gaza Strip, which has left more than 1.4 million Palestinians cut off from the outside world and struggling with desperate poverty, Amnesty International said today, one year on from the end of Israel’s military offensive in Gaza.

Israel must end its suffocating blockade of the Gaza Strip, which has left more than 1.4 million Palestinians cut off from the outside world and struggling with desperate poverty, Amnesty International said today, one year on from the end of Israel’s military offensive in Gaza.

Amnesty International has gathered testimony from people still struggling to rebuild their lives following Operation “Cast Lead”, which killed around 1,400 Palestinians and injured thousands more. (See link to the briefing paper Suffocating: The Gaza Strip under Israeli blockade below)

“The blockade is strangling virtually every aspect of life for Gaza’s population, more than half of whom are children. The increasing isolation and suffering of the people of Gaza cannot be allowed to continue,” said Colm O’Gorman, Executive Director, Amnesty International Ireland.

“Israel claims that the blockade, which started in June 2007, is a response to the indiscriminate rocket attacks launched from Gaza into southern Israel by Palestinian armed groups. The reality is that the blockade does not target armed groups but rather punishes Gaza’s entire population by restricting the entry of food, medical supplies, educational equipment and building materials.

“The Israeli government, as the occupying power, must comply with the binding legal obligation and lift the blockade without further delay.’

During Operation “Cast Lead”, from 27 December 2008 to 18 January 2009, 13 Israelis were killed, including three civilians in southern Israel, where dozens more were injured in indiscriminate rocket attacks by Palestinian armed groups.

Amnesty International’s report highlights the devastating impact of the blockade on ordinary people’s lives.

In Gaza, Israeli attacks damaged or destroyed civilian buildings and infrastructure, including hospitals and schools, the water and electricity systems. In addition to 1,400 deaths, thousands of Palestinian homes were destroyed or severely damaged.

Mohammed and Halima Mslih and their four young children fled their home in the village of Juhor al-Dik, south of Gaza City, during the conflict one year ago. While they were away Israeli army bulldozers demolished their home.

“When we returned everything was broken. People were giving us food because we had nothing,” said Mohammed Mslih.

Six months after the cease-fire the family was still living in a flimsy nylon tent and they have only now been able to construct a simple permanent home. The family fear, however, that continuing Israeli military incursions may destroy the little they have left.

“Since July the army has been coming to the area….the soldier told us ‘ you haven’t seen anything yet; next time we will bring the houses down on your heads’” said Halima Mslih.

An estimated 280 of the 641 schools in Gaza were damaged and 18 were destroyed. More than half of Gaza’s population is under the age of 18 and the disruption to their education, due to the damage caused during Operation “Cast Lead” and as a result of the continuing Israeli boycott, is having a devastating impact.

Unemployment in Gaza is spiralling as those businesses that remain struggle to survive under the blockade. Farmers and fishermen have also had their livelihood's destroyed. Unemployment in Gaza is now at 40%.

Hospitals have also been badly affected by the military offensive and the blockade. Trucks of medical aid provided by the World Health Organization have been repeatedly refused entry to Gaza without explanation by Israeli officials. Patients with serious medical conditions that cannot be treated in Gaza continue to be prevented or delayed from leaving Gaza by the Israeli authorities.

Samir al-Nadim, a father of three children, died on November 1st 2009after his exit from Gaza for a heart operation was delayed by 22 days.

Amnesty International have called on the Israeli authorities to immediately: lift the blockage and open all crossing points under it’s control; return all arable land inside Gaze currently used as a ‘buffer’ zone, agree a fair fishing zone with Palestinian representatives; and ensure that their security forces at Gaza’s borders use of force is in line with international human rights standards.
Amnesty International have called on the Hamas de facto administration in Gaza to cease permanently all indiscriminate rocket attacks into Israel, and on Hamas and the Palestinian Authority to improve co-ordination and facilitate the transfer of patients requiring medical treatment outside Gaza.