HaMoked and five other human rights organizations are urging Israel to open the crossings to the Gaza Strip as a matter of urgency: Following the closure of the crossings, hundreds of refugees facing mortal danger are trapped; patients and people injured during the recent events cannot travel in order to obtain medical treatment; supplies of basic food items are running out; and there is a worsening shortage of vital medical equipment

Human rights organizations in Israel today speak out regarding the severe distress in the Gaza Strip, warning that the situation will worsen if Israel continues its closure of the borders and the isolation of the area from the outside world. Israel’s actions are preventing supplies of vital equipment; imprisoning the residents in the Gaza Strip; and preventing residents of the area who traveled outside before the closure from returning to their homes. 

At the weekend Israel closed the border crossings between the Gaza Strip and the outside world. Karni Crossing, the main lifeline for the Gaza Strip and the point of entry of basic commodities, has now been closed for six days. The World Food Program has warned that a shortage of food may develop as early as the weekend if the crossings remain closed. Today Nahal Oz, the crossing point for fuel, was also closed. 

Rafah Crossing has been closed for eight days, while Erez Crossing was closed yesterday. Residents of the Gaza Strip who traveled outside the area cannot return to their homes and families. Residents wishing to leave the area for medical treatment in Egypt or Israel, including chronic patients and people injured during the recent incidents, are trapped in the Gaza Strip. A small number of blood units reached the Gaza Strip through Erez Crossing recently, but there is a severe and worsening shortage of vital medical equipment. Hundreds of refugees are currently trapped between the closed Erez Crossing, where IDF soldiers are firing tear gas at them, and personnel from the Operational Wing of Hamas who are preventing them from returning to Gaza. 

Israel cannot stand by while the most basic human rights of the residents of the Gaza Strip are violated, and particularly when the fundamental right to life and limb is jeopardized. 

Israel controls the land crossings between the Gaza Strip and Israel, the air space above the area, and its territorial waters. Israel refuses to permit the passage of people or merchandise by sea or air. Moreover, Israel largely controls the border between the Gaza Strip and Egypt, as well as all the borders of the West Bank, to which refugees from the Gaza Strip are attempting to flee. The closure of the crossings and the threat to disconnect the Gaza Strip from the supply of electricity and water are interpreted as the collective punishment of all the residents of the Gaza Strip. 

We urge Israel to meet its obligations under international law and to open the borders of the Gaza Strip to the outside world. We urge Israel to enable persons whose lives are in danger to leave the Gaza Strip immediately and enter the West Bank. We urge Israel to enable patients and injured persons requiring medical treatment to travel to Israel and Egypt. We urge Israel to open the land crossings around the Gaza Strip and to permit the supply of humanitarian items, and particularly fuel, medicines, and staple items.