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PRESS RELEASE
October
9, 2003
PHRMG
Condemns the Internal and External Closures in the West
Bank and the Gaza
Strip
On Wednesday, 9 October, Israel ordered additional
troops to the West Bank and the Gaza Strip and maintained tough
restrictions on Palestinian movements in those areas. The restrictions
prevent the 3.5 million Palestinians in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip
from entering Israel. In addition, they
also block Palestinians from traveling from one Palestinian town to another
within the West Bank and Gaza.
Most Palestinians have been unable to reach Israel since the Middle East fighting began
three years ago. But the internal closures in the West Bank and Gaza make normal life
virtually impossible. Many Palestinians need to travel between towns or from
outlying villages to reach their jobs and schools or to shop. PHRMG asserts that the restrictions on freedom of
movement imposed by Israeli occupying forces constitute violations of economic,
social and cultural rights.
In the West Bank village of Jayus, Palestinian farmers have been unable to reach
their olive and citrus groves in the past week because the Israeli Occupying
Forces have not opened the gates of a barrier that runs between the village
and the fields.
Since Sunday, 5 October
2003, the Israeli Occupying Forces have imposed external closures and
have intensified internal closures, separating the Gaza Strip into 4 isolated
zones. The Israeli forces perpetrate additional violations of international humanitarian and
human rights law against the Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli Occupying Forces closed al-Matahen
and Abu Houli checkpoints located north of Khan Yunis on Salah al-Din Street
(the main road between the southern and central Gaza Strip).
Israeli occupying forces then used bulldozers to damage a section of the
coastal road south of Gaza city, preventing
travel between Gaza city and the
central areas of Gaza Strip. The Israeli Occupying Forces also closed Salah al-Din Street between Rafah
and Khan Yunis. As a result, the Gaza Strip
is currently partitioned into 4 isolated zones. Israeli occupying
forces also closed the border crossings with Egypt and Israel.
Once the closure was imposed, Israeli Occupying Forces moved further
into the southern Gaza Strip and began razing Palestinian land between the
illegal Israeli settlement of Morag, and the Sofa Crossing on the eastern
border with Israel. The large
Israeli military presence in this area has cut off all travel between Khan Younis and Rafah.
Israeli Occupying Forces also opened fire at Palestinian medics
attempting to access the wounded, including an ambulance from the Abu Yusuf Najar Hospital in Rafah.
Palestinians residing in properties in the Al Atatrah,
Hai El Nasser, El Fukhari
neighborhoods located to the West and East of Salah
al-Din Street, have been particularly affected during this Israeli military
operation. Water and electricity networks were damaged by the Israeli
bulldozers, cutting off all supplies since Sunday.
PHRMG asserts that the
restrictions on freedom of movement imposed by the Israeli Occupying Forces
constitute violations of economic, social and cultural rights. PHRMG calls upon the international community to take
immediate concrete steps to halt such violations of international human rights and
humanitarian law.
The
Palestinian Human Rights Monitoring Group (PHRMG) is a Palestinian,
independent, non-governmental organization working to end human rights
violations committed against Palestinians in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East
Jerusalem, regardless of
those responsible. The members of the Monitoring Group believe that the
strength of democracy and civil society in Palestinian society will be
determined by the Palestinian people, through their defense or neglect of
human rights.
Ragheb Nashashibi Street 5
Sheikh
Jarrah-Jerusalem
P.O. Box 19918
East Jerusalem 91198
admin@phrmg.org
www.phrmg.org
tel.
972-2-582-3372/3
fax.
972-2-582-3385
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