Israel must re-open the Rafah Crossing and allow thousands of stranded Gazans in and out of Gaza

About five thousand Palestinians have been stranded in Egypt and hundreds inside Gaza as Israel closed the Rafah Crossing; Gaza's sole connection with the outside world, since 9 June 2007.
Since that date, the crossing opened for few hours allowing some 160 Palestinians who were denied access into Egypt to enter the Strip.
Many of those are children, sick and elderly.
According Al Mezan's field information, the health of many disabled people, particularly those who were traveling for healthcare, is deteriorating rapidly.
Fourteen people have died at the Egyptian side of the crossing.
Their corpses were sent to the Gaza Strip through the nearby Kerem Shalom Crossing.
Reports from Egypt confirm that the stranded people live very hard conditions lacking resources in a long unexpected stay abroad.
In addition, hundreds of Gazans have been unable to leave Gaza.
Those include visitors, students who have joined universities abroad, workers, and patients who have been referred to hospitals in neighboring countries for medical care unavailable in Gaza.
The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) closed or largely obstructed the movement through the Crossing for prolonged times since 26 June 2006.
Since the take over of Gaza by Hamas, the IOF closed the Crossing.
Only on two occasions it has allowed the passage of a few dozens of Gazans who were not permitted to stay in Egypt and political delegates who were took part in intra-factional dialogues in Cairo.
Al Mezan Center condemns the continued closure of the Rafah Crossing which seriously infringes on Palestinians' right to movement and access to health, work and education.
This practice constitutes a disproportionate measure of collective punishment.
It also reflects IOF's insistence to politicize the suffering of innocent civilians in a flagrant disregard to their human rights.
The Center also condemns involving civilians in the conflict and disregarding even the minimal protections to their rights by international law.
IOF's conduct reflects a serious contradiction with the purposes and objects of the International Human Rights Law, which emphasizes the respect of human dignity at all times and without any form of discrimination.
Al Mezan therefore calls upon the international community to uphold its moral and legal obligations under IHRL and IHL by urgent intervention to protect Palestinian civilians and prevent the ongoing collective punishment they are subjected to.
Israel must re-open the Rafah Crossing immediately and allow movement and access of Palestinians in and out of Gaza.
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