Israel plans for total isolation of Gaza Strip

Date: 19 / 09 / 2007 Time: 09:35

Bethlehem – Ma'an –

Israeli sources on Wednesday stated that the security departments in Israel will submit to the cabinet a series of measures intended to create the complete isolation of the Gaza Strip.

The pretext for the isolation is that Gaza is now considered an enemy of Israel.

Among the proposed measures is to cut-off electricity, water and fuel supplies gradually.

Crossings will be closed to prevent the entry of goods and people into the Gaza Strip. People will only be permitted access to Gaza through Egypt.

High-ranking Israeli military officers presented the proposal to Israeli Minister of Defence, Ehud Barak, and military Chief of Staff, Gabi Ashkenazi, in preparation for discussion during the security cabinet's meeting.

Israeli daily newspaper Maariv reported that Ehud Barak will advise the cabinet that a major ground incursion into the Gaza Strip will be pointless unless tensions with Syria have been contained.

Israeli sources said that Israeli will supply the Gaza Strip with fifty-megawatts of electricity, one third of the usual supply. This electricity is solely meant to enable the functioning of hospitals and other vital services.

OCHA warns of determination of humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip

Tuesday September 18, 2007 15:28 by Maisa Abu Ghazalah - IMEMC News& agencies manarjibrin at gmail dot com

A report released by the United Nations coordination Office of Humanitarian affairs Saturday warned of the deteriorating humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip, demanding that all relevant parties work on guaranteeing the regular supply of medical and food supplies to the coastal region.

The report argues that the continuing closure of both the Rafah and Karni crossings has gravely affected the life of the residents of the Gaza Strip socially and economically, adding that recently-suspended health sector strike has exacerbated this situation.

The report discussed the ongoing crisis in the Gaza Strip under the following sections.

Protection of civilians

Since the beginning of September, at least 11 Palestinian civilians have been killed, and a further 28 injured, including six members of Islamic Jihad, by the Israeli army gunfire. Thirty–nine home-made shells were launched at the Israeli town of Sderot during the same period.

The report mentioned the increase of tension between the Fatah and Hamas movements, as seen in the recent forcible dispersal of several prayer-rallies. The office noted that Palestinian Human Rights organizations had expressed concern over the human rights violations witnessed at such events.

Border crossings

On the subject of border crossings, the report notes that "the Rafah border crossing is Gaza's only outlet to the outside world. Since its closure only special cases have been allowed to leave Gaza. The alternative way includes leaving the strip through Eretz crossing, and then traveling by bus, under armed Israeli guard, to the Al Auja crossing on the borders between Israel and Egypt. Those who wish to leave Gaza must send an application to ministry of civil affairs in Gaza that is then transferred to the West Bank city of Ramallah, which is then sent to the Israeli army at the Erez crossing.”

The report asserted that this mechanism allows most of the urgent cases to leave but does not meet the needs of all of the residents who are forced to leave Gaza for health, commercial and family-related reasons. At least one hundred thousand residents who sought to leave the region were barred from doing so.

The continuing closure has also gravely affected the private sector. Businesses are unable to import raw materials or export finished goods. More than 75 thousand employees have been fired over the past three months, and private sector losses are estimated at around 51 million US$.

The report also highlighted how international organizations are not immune to the closures, noting that UNRWA, the UNDP and the World Bank had halted infrastructure development projects worth more than 200 Million US$ because of an inability to import the raw materials. Several non-governmental Italian organizations also suspended funding of a water and sanitation project in the central area of the Gaza strip because of a similar inability to import raw materials.

Strikes

The medics Union announced that it will continue with the recent strike which began on August 26th to the end of Ramadan. According to the WHO, the strike has severely affected provision of preliminary health care in the region, adding that essential supplies and surgeries are much needed.

Elsewhere, power outages are frequent, especially in the northern Gaza Strip and Gaza City. Still, the cut off of power is still reported from different areas from northern Gaza Strip and the Gaza city.

Translated by Manar Jibrin

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