Geneva, October 6th 2023
Open letter Regarding the Repercussions of the Israeli Blockade Imposed on the Gaza Strip
Geneva Centre for Democracy & Human Rights
express it’s concerns about the continuation of the Israeli blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip since 2007. The tight closure policy has had serious repercussions on the human rights situation of over 2 million Palestinians living in an area of no more than 365 square kilometers.
The Israeli blockade, which has been in place for sixteen continuous years, has had devastating effects on the lives of the population in Gaza. It has significantly restricted the freedom of movement for individuals and goods, leading to high rates of poverty and unemployment.
The blockade has turned Gaza into an “open-air prison,” as described by civil society organizations. Alongside the repeated military attacks on the Gaza Strip, it has led, according to the United Nations, to “creating dire conditions for human life” And the blockade of the Gaza Strip has led to catastrophic consequences including a significant increase in youth unemployment rates, which reached 71.8% in 2022 compared to 62% in 2021. Additionally, hundreds of patients, particularly those with serious illnesses who cannot receive treatment in Gaza, have been deprived of access to hospitals in the West Bank or abroad.
The blockade has also resulted in constant shortages and deficiencies in Gaza’s pharmaceutical warehouses, as there are more than 255 medications that are not available in the Gaza Strip. Furthermore, the supply of diagnostic equipment to Gaza’s hospitals continues to be prohibited. The devastating effects of the blockade extend beyond healthcare and affect other sectors such as water, electricity, infrastructure, and sanitation, among others.
Many reports issued by United Nations bodies, stating that the blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip amounts to collective punishment, as it indiscriminately affects the entire population regardless of individual responsibility. The continuation of the blockade, along with its associated measures and restrictions, constitutes a grave violation of the rules and provisions of international law, which require that such actions be necessary and proportionate. This makes the blockade an issue that contradicts the provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention concerning the protection of civilians during wartime, which prohibits collective punishments.
The political repercussions of the ongoing blockade on the Gaza Strip are as significant as the humanitarian and economic ones. While the blockade violates basic human rights, it effectively contributes to the policy of separating the West Bank from the Gaza Strip, which is adopted by the occupying authority, Israel, in the Palestinian territories.
Israeli blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip violates United Nations Security Council Resolution 1860, issued on January 8, 2009, which called for the provision of humanitarian assistance, including food, medicine, and treatment, and their distribution without obstacles in the Gaza Strip.
Geneva Centre for Democracy & Human Rights
highlights the importance of characterizing the Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip as collective punishment, considering the legal considerations that classify collective punishment as a war crime, based on previous judicial practices, including those outlined in the statutes of the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda and the Special Court for Sierra Leone.
It is time to work towards ending the suffering of the civilian population in Gaza and exert pressure to lift the unlawful land and sea blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip and to make efforts to ensure accountability for Israeli leaders for their ongoing violations against Palestinians, particularly the blockade on the Gaza Strip.
Contact: info@gcdhr.org