Five years of closure on Gaza: Gaza is more opened up towards the outside world, yet still cut off from the West Bank and Israel
June 10, 2012: In the past five years since Hamas' takeover of Gaza, Israel's policy of closure on the Strip has undergone important changes. Today Gaza is more opened up towards the outside world, however sweeping and indiscriminate restrictions on travel and on movement of goods between Gaza and the West Bank and Israel remain nearly unchanged. To mark five years of the closure of Gaza, Gisha released two information sheets today.
Graphing five years of closure: The following information sheet graphs the changes that have occurred over the past five years, providing context for those changes based on data about access before the closure and showing their impact on the economy. We hope this information can serve as a reminder that despite welcome changes in the policy, the civilian closure on Gaza has not been lifted entirely and continues to prevent residents of the Strip from engaging in family life, from accessing opportunities for higher education, and from the possibility of developing a healthy and prosperous economy and society.
What is the "separation policy"? Over the past two years, the "separation policy" has become a common term thrown around by Israeli security officials, though its meaning remains a mystery. The following document provides a factual basis for a substantive discussion on the “separation policy” and its political, economic and security ramifications. We provide concrete examples of uses of the term and explanations given for it by state officials.
To read the new release click here.
To read the information sheet: Five years of closure
To read the information sheet: What is the separation policy?
