‘Over the past ten years, the Israeli military has gradually expanded restrictions on access to farmland on the Gaza side of the “Green Line”, and to fishing areas along the Gaza Strip coast’, says a UN report published on Friday.
The report is based upon a study commissioned to Al-Sahel Co. for Institutional Development and Communications, and supplemented with further research by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, occupied Palestinian territory (OCHA oPt) and the World Food Programme (WFP).
It is titled Between the Fence and a Hard Place – the Humanitarian impact of Israeli-imposed restrictions on access to land and sea in the Gaza Strip.
The OCHA notes that Israel’s stated intention is preventing attacks by Palestinian armed factions.
It added: ‘The findings of this study indicate that this regime has had a devastating impact on the physical security and livelihoods of nearly 180,000 people, exacerbating the assault on human dignity triggered by the blockade imposed by Israel in June 2007.’
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
‘Over the past ten years, the Israeli military has gradually expanded restrictions on access to farmland on the Gaza side of the 1949 “Green Line”, and to fishing areas along the Gaza Strip coast, with the stated intention of preventing attacks on Israel by Palestinian armed factions, including firing projectiles.
‘This study aims at assessing the scope of these restrictions, as well as their impact on physical security, livelihood and access to services.
‘The information and analysis presented is based on over 100 interviews and focus group discussions carried out during March-April 2010, and complemented with analysis of quantitative data available from other sources.
‘Since late 2008, Palestinians have been totally or partially prevented from accessing land located up to 1,000-1,500 metres from the Green Line (depending on the specific area), and sea areas beyond three nautical miles from shore.
‘Overall, the land restricted area is estimated at 17 per cent of the total land mass of the Gaza Strip and 35 per cent of its agricultural land.
‘At sea, fishermen are totally prevented from accessing some 85 per cent of the maritime areas they are entitled to access according to the Oslo Agreements.
‘An estimated 178,000 people – 12 per cent of the population of the Gaza Strip – are directly affected by the access regime implemented by the Israeli military.
‘This includes approximately 113,000 people affected by such measures in land areas, and 65,000 people affected by restrictions to maritime areas.
‘Access restrictions are primarily enforced by opening live fire on people entering the restricted areas.
‘While in most cases it is “warning shots” that force people from the area, since the end of the “Cast Lead” offensive in January 2009, the Israeli army has also killed a total of 22 civilians and injured another 146 in these circumstances.
‘Despite the potential for civilian casualties, the Israeli authorities have not informed the affected population about the precise boundaries of the restricted areas and the conditions under which access to these areas may be permitted or denied . . .
‘Since the end of the “Cast Lead” offensive 41 Palestinian militants and four Israeli soldiers were killed in the restricted area or its vicinity in these circumstances and another 26 Palestinian militants and ten Israeli soldiers were injured.
‘A complementary method used by the Israeli military to discourage access is the systematic levelling of farm land and the destruction of other private property located in restricted areas.
‘Given that levelling operations usually target fruit trees and greenhouses, some farmers have re-planted previously levelled areas with rain-fed crops, which demand less care and have better chances of survival.
‘However, the ability of farmers to harvest these crops is limited and the income is only a fraction of the income of the original crops.
‘The value of agricultural and other property destroyed in the past five years in the land restricted area is conservatively estimated at US$308 million (replacement cost).
‘Agriculture-related assets include fruit trees, greenhouses, chicken and sheep farms and water wells, and account for 90 per cent of this cost.
‘It has been further estimated that access restrictions and the related destruction of agricultural assets results in a yearly loss of approximately 75,000 metric tonnes of potential produce.
‘The market value of this produce is conservatively estimated at US$50.2 million a year.
‘Most farmers interviewed for this study indicated that since the expansion of the restricted area in 2008, their income from agriculture has been reduced to less than a third of its previous amount.
‘Others reported having their income wiped out.
‘In the fishing sector, the potential fishing catch lost as a result of access restrictions is estimated at approximately 7,000 metric tonnes, with a related income loss of some US$26.5 million over a period of five years.
‘The erosion of livelihoods has forced affected families to develop a variety of coping mechanisms aimed at generating alternative income and reducing expenditure.
‘Some of these practices raise significant concerns, including reductions in the quantity of food consumed; gradual shifts in diets (from vegetables and animal products to low-cost and high-carbohydrate items); reductions in the length of school enrolment for children; and increased inclination of parents to marry off daughters earlier.
‘The current regime also affects access to schools, seven of which are located within the restricted areas.
‘The safety of students and staff attending these institutions (4,600), the quality of education provided and the level of educational achievement have been seriously undermined by the frequent exposure to Israeli fire targeting people present in open areas, be they farmers or armed militants.
‘Finally, access restrictions have significantly impeded the maintenance and upgrade of existing wastewater and electricity infrastructure, negatively impacting the provision of services to the entire population of the Gaza Strip.
‘In particular, the prolonged delay in the construction of three wastewater treatment plants has contributed to the daily release of some 80 million litres of raw and partially-treated sewage into the sea and streams, thus adding a significant environmental and health hazard.
‘To start addressing the dire situation of one of the most vulnerable segments of Gaza’s population, the current restrictions on civilian access to Gaza’s land and sea must be urgently lifted to the fullest extent possible.
‘All parties must abide by their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law, including full implementation of Security Council Resolution 1860.1
‘The findings of this study also indicate that larger and better targeted humanitarian assistance is required to mitigate the impact of the ongoing erosion to livelihoods and to prevent further deterioration.
THE WAY FORWARD
‘The findings of this study indicate that the access regime implemented by the Israeli military on land areas along the Green Line and on sea areas along Gaza’s coast severely compromise the physical security and livelihoods of nearly 180,000 people.
‘This regime has exacerbated the assault on human dignity triggered by the blockade imposed by Israel in June 2007.
‘Since late 2008, the Israeli army has expanded access-restricted areas to cover approximately 17 per cent of the Gaza Strip’s territory and 85 per cent of its maritime area (as defined in the Oslo Agreement).
‘The lethal methods used to enforce this regime . . . have resulted in a severe “protection crisis”, characterised by a systematic lack of respect for the most basic rights afforded to civilian populations under international law.
‘The losses inflicted by the access regime and its associated enforcement methods are enormous.
‘They have severely penalized the agricultural sector, one of the most important sectors in Gaza’s economy, and contributed to the further impoverishment of tens of thousands of people, who have become increasingly dependant on humanitarian assistance.
‘This study also demonstrates that the high levels of insecurity and erosion of livelihood have had serious implications on food security and psychosocial well-being, while undermining the ability of people to rely on social networks, thus undermining their resilience.
‘It is likely that that the situation has made women, children, and the elderly within affected communities especially vulnerable.
‘To start addressing the dire situation of one of the most vulnerable segments of Gaza’s population, the current restrictions on civilian access to Gaza’s land and sea must be urgently lifted to the fullest extent possible.
‘All parties must abide by their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law.
‘In particular, the Israeli army must immediately stop the opening of “warning fire” at civilians, as well the levelling of agricultural land and the destruction of civilian property . . .
‘Furthermore, while the recent limited easing of restrictions on imports implemented by Israel is a welcome step, to restore rights of the entire population, including those affected by access restrictions, a sustained reopening of the crossing points on the basis of the 2005 Agreement on Movement and Access between the Palestinian Authority and Israel and in accordance with the provisions of UNSCR 1860 is urgently required.
‘The findings of this study also indicate that larger and better targeted humanitarian assistance is required to mitigate the impact of the ongoing erosion of livelihood and to prevent further deterioration.’