This report documents the impact of the ongoing Israel-imposed siege on Palestinian civilians, which affects their economic and social conditions. This report also reveals the deterioration of the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. Thus, this report exposes the real conditions of the Gaza Strip's population and the Israeli closure imposed on all Gaza’s crossings for 10 years. It refutes Israel’s claims that it has eased the closure of the Gaza Strip. Furthermore, the report highlights that the continuing Israeli measures which are aimed to institutionalize the closure and make the illegal restrictions imposed on the movement of persons and goods acceptable at the international level although they violate the international law, including the international humanitarian and human rights laws. The report shows that the Israeli closure is main obstacle for any development or reconstruction process in the Gaza Strip and the main cause of the humanitarian crisis and deterioration on the economic and social levels. The following are the most significant developments relevant to Gaza's border crossings during the reporting period 01– 31 July 2016:
Movement of commodities
During the reporting period, no remarkable change was witnessed on the movement of goods. An almost complete ban continued on the exportation of goods to the West Bank, Israel and abroad, including industrial and agricultural goods. Restrictions were also imposed on the entry of a number of basic goods, especially materials needed for Gaza reconstruction, infrastructure projects and materials for manufacturing and production. However, Israeli forces allowed the entry of certain types of goods, the majority of which were foodstuffs and consumables, under complicated procedures, including the frequent closure of the only commercial crossing in the Gaza Strip, Karm Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom); the crossing was closed for 12 days (38.7%). As a result:
During the reporting period (July), Israeli forces allowed the entry of construction materials for the Gaza Strip according to the "UN Mechanism to Reconstruct Gaza" after they prevented the entry of construction materials for the private sector in Gaza city for 12 days. As a result, hundreds of private under-construction housing projects stopped in addition to other Reconstruction projects carried out by the private sector.
In a limited exception, the Israeli authorities allowed the entry of very limited quantities of construction materials for the intentional organizations and Qatari projects. According to the National Ministry of Economy, the Israeli authorities allowed the entry of 54,855 tons of cement, 6,895 tons of construction steel and 215,800 tons of aggregate (3.6%, 1.3% and 7.1% of the total construction materials needed for the Gaza Reconstruction.)
During the reporting period, Israeli forces prevented the entry of cooking gas for 12 days. During the days the crossing was open, Israeli forces allowed the entry of only 5,354 tons of cooking gas; a daily average of 172.7 tons. This amount represents 49.3% of the actual daily needs of the population, which is 350 tons according to General Petroleum Corporation in Gaza (EGPC).
Israeli forces continued to impose an almost complete ban on the Gaza Strip's exports to the West Bank, Israel and abroad, but exceptionally allowed the exportation of 152 truckloads to the West Bank; 124 truckloads of which were agricultural products and 28 truckloads of various goods (furniture, clothes, scrap, spices and stationary). The rate of the Gaza Strip exports for July constitutes 3.3% of the exports before June 2007.
In a new step, Israeli authorities allowed the entry of vehicles into the Gaza Strip through Beit Hanoun (Erez) crossing rather than Karm abu Salem Crossing. They allowed the entry of 3 refrigerator trucks, 8 busses and 54 small vehicles.