Gaza Strip, January 19: Israel must end its “suffocating” blockade on the war-torn Gaza Strip, where the population struggles to survive under collective punishment, a leading international rights group said in a report marking the first anniversary of Israel’s war on the coastal enclave.
“The blockade is strangling virtually every aspect of life for Gaza’s population, more than half of whom are children,” said Malcolm Smart, Middle East and North Africa Director in Amnesty International.
Israel has clamped a siege on the Gaza Strip since Hamas was voted to power in the 2006 legislative elections.
It further tightened the blockade after Hamas assumed control in 2007 following clashes with Fatah rival.
The siege blocks humanitarian aid, including harmless goods such as cheeses, toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap and toilet papers.
In its “Suffocating: The Gaza Strip under Israeli blockade” paper, Amnesty refutes the claim that the siege aim is stopping rockets from falling on southern Israel.
“The reality is that the blockade does not target armed groups but rather punishes Gaza’s entire population by restricting the entry of food, medical supplies, educational equipment and building materials.”
Israel’s Gaza War in Figures
The siege leaves more than 1.5 million Palestinians cut off from the outside world and struggling with desperate poverty.
“Unemployment in Gaza is spiraling as those businesses that remain struggle to survive under the blockade,” said Amnesty.
The paper is issued to mark the first anniversary of Israel’s deadly war against the impoverished territory.
More than 1,400 people, including 437 children, were killed and more than 5,450 were wounded in three weeks of air, sea and land attacks.
A year after the war, the siege has prevented Gazans from putting their lives back together.
Aggravated
Amnesty said the humanitarian catastrophe created by the siege was further aggravated by the Israeli war.
“In Gaza, Israeli attacks damaged or destroyed civilian buildings and infrastructure, including hospitals and schools, the water and electricity systems.”
With Israel blocking construction materials needed for rebuilding, thousands of Gaza civilians have been forced to take shelters for months in makeshifts tents.
Amnesty added that Gazans’ education was also severely hit, with more than half the schools in the Strip damaged in the war.
“More than half of Gaza’s population is under the age of 18 and the disruption to their education, due to the damage caused during Operation Cast Lead and as a result of the continuing Israeli boycott, is having a devastating impact.”
Even hospitals, ravaged by the war, are left struggling without help.
“Trucks of medical aid provided by the World Health Organization have been repeatedly refused entry to Gaza without explanation by Israeli officials.
“Patients with serious medical conditions that cannot be treated in Gaza continue to be prevented or delayed from leaving Gaza by the Israeli authorities.”
The international rights advocacy group urged Israel to comply with its legal obligations and end the suffering of the people of Gaza.
“As the occupying power, Israel has a duty under international law to ensure the welfare of Gaza’s inhabitants, including their rights to health, education, food and adequate housing,” insists Smart.
“The blockade constitutes collective punishment under international law and must be lifted immediately.”
-Agencies