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UN Report: IDF Barring Gazans' Access to Farms, Fishing Zones
Humanitarian affairs office: Israel restricts entry to 17% of Gaza lands, 85% of beachfront zone, enforces restrictions with live fire.
Over the last ten years, the Israel Defense Forces have increasingly restricted Palestinian access to farmland on the Gazan side of the Israeli-Gaza border as well as to fishing zones along the Gaza beach, a United Nations report revealed Thursday.
Palestinian fishermen preparing their boats before leaving the Gaza City port to fish on the Mediterranean sea. (Photo by: AP) The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian
Affairs (OCHA) wrote in the report, complied in cooperation with the
World Food Program (WFP), that Israel's justification for these
restrictions was the prevention of attacks on Israel, including the
firing of rockets.
The report was compiled in an effort to understand the extent of the restrictions as well as their effect on the Palestinians' sense of personal security, their ability to make a living and their ability to access services. The report was based on more than 100 interviews and focus group meetings, as well as the analysis of data gathered from other sources.
According to the report, since 2008 the IDF has prevented access to land up to 1,500 meters outside the Green Line, and to naval zones up to 4.5 kilometers from the shore. All in all the IDF restricts access to 17 percent of Gaza's territory. At sea, the fishermen are completely barred from 85 percent of the naval territory to which they are entitled under the Oslo Accords.
The report estimates that some 178,000 individuals are directly affected by these access restrictions.
According to OCHA, the IDF enforces uses life fire on individuals who enter restricted zones. Though in most cases the troops fire warning shots, 22 people have been killed and 146 have been wounded in such incidents since the end of Operation Cast Lead in January 2009. The report further argues that this method of enforcement violates international humanitarian law, and that the local Palestinian population was never informed by Israel of the exact nature of the restrictions.
The research conducted by OCHA also suggested that the IDF has leveled farmland and destroyed personal property situated in restricted areas in efforts to keep Palestinians out. The farmers who own the lands have tried to make up the lost income with alternate forms of farming, the report argues, but their ability to harvest their crops is limited and the profits from the alternate methods comprise a fraction of the income generated on the original land. OCHA estimated some $308 million in losses as a direct result of the Israeli restrictions.
Most of the farmers interviewed for the report said that since the expansion of the restricted zone they have lost more than two thirds of their income. Others reported that their income has been entirely eliminated. The same was true for Gaza fishermen, who have lost an estimated $26.5 million over the last five years.
Other effects of the restrictions include the deterioration in the quality of food consumed by Gazans, gradual changes in diet (from fresh produce and meat to carbohydrate-rich cheap items), decrease in school attendance and a decrease in the age of marriage for girls, the report maintained.
The IDF policy also affects access to schools, seven of which are inside restricted areas, the students' and teachers' security, the quality of education and academic achievements, the report argued.
OCHA called on Israel to lift the restrictions immediately and
fulfill it international humanitarian obligation. The organization
especially stressed its call on Israel to refrain from opening fire at
civilians and destroying their personal property.
16 Comments so far
Show All0 comments so far... What can you say? Can one demand that Israel respect international law? Can anyone enforce anything as long as the Zionists and their greater plan of controlling the region and its resources is supported by the US.
Those sociopaths in the Democrats or Republicans whose political funds are paid by Zionists see such humanitarian considerations for Palestinians as a minor side issue, just like civilian deaths in Iraq or Afghanistan.
We are talking about fools of a failing empire who are still hoping to make hay while the sun sets, and they don't give a rat's a.. who suffers as long as they can hold on to the money and power today.
Today Palestinians suffer, but at the end of the day Americans and Israelis will suffer too and more, but those with power today have no interest in any such future outcomes. Mark my words that justice will prevail sooner or later and remember "we are all Palestinians now”. Just look at the walls that are closing in on your life!
It's pretty hard to be concerned with humanitarian issues while ethnically cleansing an area.
q
Check out this report from Max Keiser on the economy and on the international boycott of Israel:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0J6yiydtPE
We need a NEW POLITICAL PARTY IN THE UNITED STATES and one of it's platforms needs to take a STRONG STAND AGAINST ISRAEL!
excellent link...thanks.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F50QFeaNwPs&feature=player_embedded
Nothing knew here. It's what Zionism has always been and always will be.
De-Countrify Israel Now and force Zionists to pay Reparations.
Gaza And The Warsaw Ghetto
same place
different time
while the world stood by
genocide
live
"OCHA called on Israel to lift the restrictions immediately and fulfill it(s) international humanitarian obligation. The organization especially stressed its call on Israel to refrain from opening fire at civilians and destroying their personal property."
Why then, it's as good as done. After all, you're talking to the most moral army in the world.
Why didn't you speak up sooner, OCHA? Why, we never realized...
"According to the report, since 2008 the IDF has prevented access to land up to 1,500 meters outside the Green Line..."
You're talking about a lousy less-than-a-mile-wide band running the length and breadth of Gaza. Come back when you've got something significant to bitch about. This is totally piddling when weighed against protecting Israel from Mad Muslim Rocket Attacks...like from the Jordan Valley, which Israel has taken total control of, and is clearing of Mad Muslims...and which Netanyahu has unequivocally stated Israel will never give back...those rockets, you know.
I suspect the naval zones portion is garbled in the article, and so I can't speak of Israel's absolute justification there. But what else could it be but the Rockets?
Of course, it has to be "the Rockets:" Israel is so afraid of homemade rockets (which land on Palestinian land that has been stolen by Israel) that the IDF is forced to ethnically cleanse Palestinians from Palestinian land.
And that must be why Israel refuses to announce its borders, and instead keeps morphing along like a cancer, stealing Palestinian land and killing Palestinians in this slow-motion holocaust that has continued for over 60 years.
Israel makes a mockery of Judaiism, and a mockery of God.
For an idea of the depths to which Israel continues in their wanton disregard of international law and human decency, check out this week's articles on counterpunch.org.
Any of us who used to wonder, as children, why no one stopped the Nazis from slaughtering the Jews, can stop wondering, and look in the mirror. WE are now those "good" Germans, ignoring Israel's genocide against the Palestinians.
But that's not all. Not only are we "good" Germans, we are stupid. We bankroll Israel's crimes against humanity to the tune of $10 million per day, while we go without jobs, healthcare, education, or, increasingly, hope of any kind that our children and grandchildren will inherit anything but economic and environmental devastation.
Less than a mile wide stretch of farmland? That's a good chunk of farmland. Have you ever tried to hoe a quarter acre garden? It's lots of work but it can keep a large family fed very well all winter. That is a lot of potential food Israeli's are denying to Palestinians. As far as fishing goes, you have to get out a little farther than you can wade if there are a lot of fishermen trying to find food. More food Israeli's are denying to Palestinians.
From the accounts on Breaking the Silence, my encounters with emotionally stunted discharged soldiers in Goa and lately the events on Facebook I don't think it's about rockets, I think it's more about taking pleasure in inflicting torture on helpless victims. The soldiers sure squealed in terror when they encountered those Turks on the flotilla and when they were talking to the press after it happened. Big difference between tormenting helpless individuals and having a face to face encounter with real fighters.
It's sad that Israel is systematically turning all it's young people into concienceless sadists. Individuals in the IDF are also victims and will pay all their lives in ways they probably will never understand.
Breaking: Cyprus will stop Gaza aid ship from reaching Gaza with humanitarian aid.
http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/cyprus-to-lebanon-we-will-turn-back-gaza-bound-aid-ship-1.309068
Got me to Haaretz, but not the article.
As already said, there is nothing new here.
What is new is every new day that neo-Israel is allowed to be.
The place has nothing to do with the Torah or any bible or any version of the Jewish faith. It has a great deal to do with aberrant ideologies misusing the words of the Jewish faith.
Israel lives in the minds of the faithful wherever they be. Jews and others who do not point this out vociferously are guilty of the massive crime that neo-Israel thrusts into the face of humanity every day of its existence.
James Edwards is right on. And ptrkorps saying this:
Israel makes a mockery of Judaiism, and a mockery of God.
How come most in western societies that have been fed propaganda and utterly ridiculous reporting of the situation in Palestine that political leaders expect to be respected?
Western society follows the leadership of the USA. Their politicians do in any event. But Palestine and its terrible situation has been long know. Its been well known too. Coverage of the situation has millions of so called free people in these democracies afraid of Zionism and its most effective tool is the danger people feel of appearing to indulge anti-semitic racism.
This lie must be broken wide open.
How can the western societies be so complicit in such long standing and brutal criminal aggression. What exactly is it that allows airwaves of compulsion for sponsored National media across all countries and globally to gain such control while steeped in the exercising a wilful editorial policy that reeks of sheer propaganda, indoctrination and corruption?
What was so bad about Soviet Union propaganda was that it was done to a population that was not free. It is far worse that it is being done to populations that are supposedly living in free democracies? It extends into the heart of academic work too. That has crucially become true. How did occur? Legally it has effectively blocked critical opposition while the consistently shameful fawning and pathetically weak statements of protest for Israel's behaviour and actions from Western political leaderships are an ongoing phenomena; forever it appears? Why is this?
The EU is militarily occupied by the USA. The USA insists as does Israel that it seeks to broker peace with Palestinians?
If it wasn't so sad and so awful it would be very funny. That's certainly the way Zionist leaders feel about it.
More and more citizens are sick of this behaviour by their governments. They are sick to be associated with this hypocrisy. It effects everyone whether they know it or not? Its not about religion or Jews. Its about Palestinian land and resources and their people being destroyed by racist Jewish Israel force of Occupation for thieving greed and seemingly endless rewards through barbarism and terror.
Judaism is a religion and has a great heritage. Jews who are secular are as good as any other citizen and those who practice their religion are as entitled to respect as are others who practice their own respective religions.
Jewish people who speak out against the Zionists behaviour in
the Middle East through the State called Israel are not in the least insignificant. They are more courageous than most as they are liable to face difficulties with Zionist Jews. Zionist Jews too are propagandised as are Jews in Israel especially the young generations. They too are victims. Their compulsory military service ensures most become racist and fully indoctrinated in National policy which entails theft,the wanton use of force on neighbours and rewards. They become like the Nazi but with regard to their Arab neighbours. And they laugh at their nutty stupid Christian supporters abroad. They at least can see that they are such fools. They are not stupid about that! They take every advantage. They know they control them through their friends in high places particularly in The USA. And they strut their invincibility while use of dual citizenry passports allow many well heeled Jewish sons and daughters to head off to their relations in USA and Europe to boot.
Its so cool having another nationality!
Where there is a nice sponsored house with water in Occupied Palestine. Its a holiday resort.
Just who claims to have made all Jews a Nation?
Where are its boundaries and what about the Palestinians and the inalienable rights of their refugee populace?
Israel to-day is rapidly evolving into a much sicker society. Its National policy and the youth are being utterly corrupted and appropriately indoctrinated under its leadership.
National polls reflect that now. Its no longer a small entity but a high-tech giant that invests huge amounts exporting terror and war making materials across the globe. Its strongest support weapon is the media. Corporate and State sponsored media is corrupted entirely on its behalf. Its effects are global.
Illegalities are its norm. Yet Israel is rewarded and supported? Its main infiltrations in western societies are security related and media related with weapons too expanding at alarming rates. Israel needs enemies for a war economy. It is corrupted to the core and it flaunts its power like a spoilt bully using bogus anti-semitism as its shield as it perpetuates ever more extraordinary mythology to continue its march into the destruction of other Semitic children of Abraham.
It always expands and rewards its well controlled sponsors who must pay and pay citizens taxes to receive their own rewards of power. Its democratic credentials and its peaceful intentions are lies and a deceit and its a real existential danger to the world going forward.
BDS. We are all Palestinians now!
Take comfort in the fact that in addition to the money US taxpayers pay Israel to maintain the occupation, some American Jews go so far as to enlist in the IDF to support the occupation and ethnic cleansing of the Palestinians in East Jerusalem, the West Bank, and Gaza.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/in-desperate-search-for-
recruits-israeli-army-targets-foreigners-2004793.html