On Wednesday, April 5, 2006, an urgent petition was submitted to Israel's High Court demanding the immediate opening of Karni Crossing for regular, sufficient, and predictable hours, in order to end the economic choke-hold on Gaza and to permit its residents to live a normal life, including to receive humanitarian goods and to participate in a properly functioning economy.
The petitioners are the Gaza-based Al Mezan Center for Human Rights and the Center for the Legal Protection of Freedom of Movement (Gisha).
Since Jan.
15, 2006, the Karni Crossing has been closed, except for brief reprieves of in which limited passage was permitted.
The closure, which began at the height of the agricultural export season, has already caused more than $24 million in losses to the Palestinian economy.
The closure prevents the regular flow of basic goods to the civilian population of Gaza which is suffering shortages in many areas.
The U.
N.
has warned that the closure, along with other steps by Israel, including failure to transfer tax moneys to the Palestinian Authority, threaten to create a humanitarian disaster.
The closure has caused shortages of flour, baby formula, medicines, and other goods.
On April 4, 2006, the "Defense Minister" closed Karni Crossing again, without notifying when it would be re-opened.
The frequent closing of the crossing puts relentless pressure on a civilian population living under conditions of siege, and it raises questions about motivations behind the closure.
The petition argues that, under international law, Israel owes a duty to allow the provision of humanitarian goods to Gaza and to permit normal life to take place there.
That duty originates from, among other sources, Israel's control over the passage of goods to and from Gaza and its control of Gaza's ability to operate a seaport or airport.
The petition asks the court to order the "defense minister" not only to open the crossing but also to keep it open on a regular basis.
The Palestinian Consumer Protection Organization and a Gaza farmer, who had to destroy his produce intended for export because of the closure, have joined the petition submitted by Al Mezan and Gisha.
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