Al Mezan Condemns the Damaging of Commercial Crossing, Calls for Maintaining the Peaceful Nature of Protests

At 7:10pm on 11 May 2018, tens of Palestinian protesters moved towards the southeastern border fence of Rafah and entered the Karem Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) crossing. Sources in the border authority in Gaza stated that protesters crossed the Palestinian side of the crossing and set fire to the fuel entry point, destroying its pipes. They also damaged the conveyer belt used to transfer construction materials, administrative offices, electricity control panels, cameras, and fences. Leaked fuel caused more damage to the infrastructure of the crossing. This is the second time that protesters have broken into the crossing, the first time being on 4 May 2018.

Al Mezan Center for Human Rights categorically denounces the protesters’ storming of the crossing and damage to it. While stressing the legitimacy of the rights to assembly and protest, Al Mezan emphasizes that protests must, categorically, remain peaceful.

Al Mezan reiterates that the closure and blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip is a form of collective punishment and amounts to a flagrant, systematic violation of international law. While Al Mezan notes that crossing points with Israel have been used to tighten this closure, this does not justify vandalism, and recalls that such damage will result in more harm to Palestinian residents of the Gaza Strip.

Al Mezan calls for maintaining the security of public property.
Al Mezan urges the international community to take prompt and effective steps to end the closure of Gaza.

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