Disruptions at Rafah Crossing highlight Israel’s duty to enable Gazans’ travel abroad
October 15, 2013
Passengers waiting at Rafah Crossing. Photo: Muhammad Sabah, B’Tselem, 24 August 2013
In September 2005, Israel completed its Disengagement Plan from the Gaza Strip. Notwithstanding, Israel has retained control over all entry and exit points to and from Gaza, with the exception of Rafah Crossing. Israel controls Gaza’s sea- and air-space and prohibits the movement of aircraft or sea vessels there. With very rare exceptions, Israel also prohibits travel abroad from the Gaza Strip through Allenby Crossing in the West Bank, and never allows Palestinians to fly abroad from Israel’s Ben Gurion International Airport.
Consequently, Rafah Crossing is currently the only possible way to travel between the Gaza Strip and other countries. After Hamas seized power in the Gaza Strip in 2007, the crossing was closed nearly continuously for several years. In late May 2011, Egypt announced the official and permanent opening of Rafah Crossing to Palestinians. Since then, travel into and out of the Gaza Strip became virtually unrestricted, and Gazans went abroad for medical treatment, studies, work, family visits and vacations. Passing through the crossing required prior registration with the Ministry of the Interior in the Gaza Strip, which informed applicants if, and on what date, they would be allowed through.
However, in early July 2013, with the onset of the events that led to the overthrowing of Muhammad Morsi, Egyptian authorities limited passage through Rafah Crossing, and the number of persons using it dropped radically. From July to September 2013, the crossing was open only intermittently. When open, Egyptian authorities only permitted the passage of limited groups, such as foreign nationals, the gravely ill, and students (the latter excepting those studying in Egypt, most of whom were allowed through only at the end of September). To date, people who had planned to travel abroad for meetings, family-related matters, professional courses or vacations, have been unable to do so.
Even people who did manage to pass through the Rafah Crossing had to do so at personal risk, travelling to the Cairo airport via northern Sinai, where fighting is underway between the Egyptian army and armed groups. B’Tselem’s field researchers interviewed people who voiced great concern over taking that route with their families, but had no other choice.
http://www.btselem.org/gaza_strip/20131015_rafah_closing_and_the_right_to_freedom_of_movement
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Reminds me of Lebanese apartheid vs. Palestinians that isn't considered apartheid according to western anti-Israel activists who see the letters forming the word apartheid in Israeli vegetable soup.
Lebanese apartheid is Israel's fault.
Hell, the Syrian war has killed off hundreds of Palestinians.
That's Israel's fault too.
Who writes this shit?
Who buys into this shit?
