The Israeli blockade of the Gaza strip has resulted in the deterioration of the standard of living of Gazans. The blockade has been super-imposed by Israel following the breakdown of a five and a half month ceasefire. Since Israel controls Gaza’s land borders, airspace and territorial waters it is responsible under international law for the provision of welfare to Gazans. Donatella Rovera, Amnesty International’s researcher on Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, notes that ‘Israel is not fulfilling its responsibilities.’ This, in turn, has affected the provision of basic humanitarian resources to Gaza.

Amnesty International states that the provision of basic commodities (including food, gas, electricity etc) has been ‘reduced from a trickle to an intermittent drip.’

Food – with a population of 1.5 million, Gazans find it extremely difficult to obtain basic nutrition for their everyday sustenance. The scarcity in grain has resulted in the closure of many mills. Aid agencies’ warehouses outside Gaza are replete with food and ready to be transported into Gaza but have yet to receive permission from Israeli authorities.

Gas – the reduction in the transport of gas to Gaza means that many families who are able to acquire food may find themselves in the position of not being able to cook it.

Electricity – numerous blackouts means that water cannot be pumped to several apartments. Moreover hospitals find it increasingly difficult to maintain basic appliances that are essential for the provision of adequate treatment.

Water – the availability of water is limited to a few hours a day. Furthermore the lack of chlorine in water indicates that waterborne diseases are more likely to affect already malnourished Gazans.

Border control – the control of Gaza’s border has meant that Israeli authorities have a large discretion over the number of Gazans that can cross the border into Israel. Karima Abu Dalal, a 34-year-old mother of five young children who had been suffering from a cancer in the lymph glands, had been denied permission to travel to the West Bank via Israel for cancer treatment. The Israeli High Court of Justice failed to intervene. An Israeli cancer specialist confirmed the highly curable nature of the cancer. Subsequent entry into Egypt from Gaza was made possible but by then the cancer had developed to its fatal stage. Karima returned to Gaza to spend her last days with her family.

Two children are among the 20 Palestinians killed by Israeli forces since 4 November. Recent rocket-attacks by armed groups from Gaza have resulted in the injury of two Israeli civilians and several soldiers.

Amnesty International calls on Israeli forces and Palestinian armed groups to ‘cease attacks and actions which put the lives of the civilian populations of Gaza and southern Israel at risk.’