Israel tightened the restrictions on the movement of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip at the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan.
At around 2pm on Wednesday 29 October 2003, the Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) closed the only road connecting the north and south of the Gaza Strip at the Al Hikir checkpoint, in the middle of the Gaza Strip.
The closure lasted until 7pm, two hours after the time to break the fast of Ramadan.
The IOF also searched and detained tens of vehicles and arrested three persons.
Seven people were wounded as the IOF opened fire on the crowd after having allowed them to pass the checkpoint.
Moreover, the closure of this checkpoint prevented thousands of Palestinians from returning to their homes from Gaza City, which is the central place for work, education and medical treatment in the Gaza Strip.
Concurrently, the IOF continued to reduce the opening hours in the Rafah Terminal, which is the only outlet for Gazans wishing to travel outside the Gaza Strip.
Only few buses of passengers are allowed to enter from Egypt, while hundreds of persons are forced to wait in the Terminal for days under inhumane conditions until they can pass.
According to the information collected by Al Mezan, hundreds of Palestinians are currently trapped on the Egyptian side of the Terminal, including numerous children, elderly and sick people.
The Al Mezan Center for Human Rights considers these restrictions as a measure of apartheid that constitutes part of Israel’s policy of collective punishment of Palestinian civilians in the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT).
Such practices are in violation of Israel’s obligations under the Fourth Geneva Convention Relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War (12 August 1949), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, and the human rights law.
As such, the Center calls upon the international community to fulfill its moral and legal responsibilities under these instruments and provide effective protection for the Palestinian civilians in the OPT.
Al Mezan believes that ignoring these abuses will only encourage Israel to commit more violations of Palestinians human rights.
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