January, 19 2010, 09:49am EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7413 5566,After hours: +44 7778 472 126,Email:,press@amnesty.org
Israel's Gaza Blockade Continues to Suffocate Daily Life
Israel must end its suffocating blockade of the Gaza Strip, which
leaves more than 1.4 million Palestinians cut off from the outside
world and struggling with desperate poverty, Amnesty International said
one year on from the end of Israel's military offensive in Gaza
Amnesty International's briefing paper Suffocating: The Gaza Strip
under Israeli blockade gathers testimony from people still struggling
to rebuild their lives following Operation "Cast Lead", which killed
around 1,400 Palestinians and injured thousands more.
LONDON
Israel must end its suffocating blockade of the Gaza Strip, which
leaves more than 1.4 million Palestinians cut off from the outside
world and struggling with desperate poverty, Amnesty International said
one year on from the end of Israel's military offensive in Gaza
Amnesty International's briefing paper Suffocating: The Gaza Strip
under Israeli blockade gathers testimony from people still struggling
to rebuild their lives following Operation "Cast Lead", which killed
around 1,400 Palestinians and injured thousands more.
"Israel claims that the ongoing blockade of Gaza, in force since
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," said Malcolm
Smart, Middle East and North Africa Director, Amnesty International.
"The blockade constitutes collective punishment under international law and must be lifted immediately."
As the occupying power, Israel has a duty under international law to
ensure the welfare of Gaza's inhabitants, including their rights to
health, education, food and adequate housing
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.
In Gaza, Israeli attacks damaged or destroyed civilian buildings and
infrastructure, including hospitals and schools, the water and
electricity systems. Thousands of Palestinian homes were destroyed or
severely damaged.
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.
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 - since the closure of crossings leading into and
out of Gaza, patients have been made to apply for permits, but these
permits are frequently denied. On 1 November 2009, Samir al-Nadim, a
father of three children, died after his exit from Gaza for a heart
operation was delayed by 22 days.
Amnesty International spoke to a number of families whose homes were
destroyed in the Israeli military operation and one year on are still
living in temporary accommodation.
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 their home was demolished
by Israeli army bulldozers.
"When we returned everything was broken. People were giving us food because we had nothing," said Mohammed Mslih.
Six months after the ceasefire 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.
Unemployment in Gaza is spiralling as those businesses that remain
struggle to survive under the blockade. In December 2009, the UN
reported that unemployment in Gaza was over 40 per cent.
"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. The Israeli government must comply with binding legal
obligation, as the occupying power, to lift the blockade without
further delay," said Malcolm Smart.
Amnesty International is a worldwide movement of people who campaign for internationally recognized human rights for all. Our supporters are outraged by human rights abuses but inspired by hope for a better world - so we work to improve human rights through campaigning and international solidarity. We have more than 2.2 million members and subscribers in more than 150 countries and regions and we coordinate this support to act for justice on a wide range of issues.
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