The IOF are maintaining the closure of Rafah Crossing for the 45th consecutive day, demonstrating their indifference to the suffering of Palestinians.
According to Al Mezan field sources, since two weeks and on a daily basis, the IOF informed Palestinian officials on the Palestinian side of the terminal of the intended opening of the crossing, which thus caused Palestinian passengers to pack their belongings daily and prepare for travel.
They were later informed each day, however, that the crossing wouldn’t open.
This practice has caused desperation and distress to passengers.
Some of the visitors who had come to meet their families and relatives in the Gaza Strip had to annul their holidays at risk of losing their jobs, while others have had their residency permits in foreign countries expired due to their prolonged stay in Gaza.
Furthermore, students who were accepted in Arab and other foreign universities risk missing their first academic semester.
Hundreds of Palestinians, who had traveled for medical treatment or for business, are stuck outside of the Gaza Strip, and are unable to return despite having depleted financial resources.
It is noteworthy that on 18 and 19 July, the IOF were obliged to open Rafah crossing after a group of passengers stranded on the Egyptian side of the terminal broke through to the Palestinian side on 14 July.
Al Mezan condemns the continuing siege and closure imposed on the Gaza Strip, in particular the closure of Rafah Crossing which links the Gaza Strip with Egypt.
Rafah Crossing operates under international supervision, thus the closure of the terminal by the IOF is unjustified.
Al Mezan emphasizes that the closure of Rafah Crossing constitutes a grave breach of international humanitarian law, particularly the 4th Geneva Convention, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenant on Political and Civil Rights, an the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
Al Mezan reaffirms that the silence of the international community in the light of ongoing Israeli violations of Palestinians' human rights allows Israel to commit further crimes.
Al Mezan reiterates its demands to the international community to immediately intervene to halt Israeli war crimes and provide protection to Palestinian civilians in the OPT, and lift the closure on the Gaza Strip.
It also asserts the importance the High Contracting Parties to the 4th Geneva Convention of holding a conference to examine the crimes perpetrated by the IOF, which demonstrate Israeli disrespect of its obligations under international law.
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