Gaza Fact Check: 10 myths for 10 years of disengagement

Posted on September 9, 2015
One initial and explicit goal of the Gaza closure was economic warfare; Israel enacted and still enacts a set of economic restrictions on the Strip that severely obstruct and undermine economic development and prosperity. Photo: Eman Mohammed

A decade ago, Israel removed its settlements and dismantled its last remaining military base inside the Gaza Strip. Since then, the myth-making about Israel’s policy in Gaza has thrived. How close are the myths to reality? Continue reading →

Posted in economic development, Infrastructure, Movement of goods into Gaza, Movement of goods out of Gaza, Movement of people into Gaza, Movement of people out of Gaza, Seperation Policy | Leave a comment

Protective Edge: One year later – too little has changed

Posted on July 6, 2015
Light years away from the reconstruction many had hoped for. Photo: Gisha

A year after Operation Protective Edge was launched, data collected by Gisha shows an alarming gap between the rhetoric about mobilizing for Gaza’s reconstruction and the harsh reality on the ground Continue reading →

Posted in economic development, General, Infrastructure, Movement of goods into Gaza, Movement of goods out of Gaza, Movement of people into Gaza, Movement of people out of Gaza | Leave a comment

Restricting movement, dividing a people

Posted on June 28, 2015
Movement is the exception, not the rule. Photo: Karl Schembri

A lot has changed since the Israeli navy intercepted the Mavi Marmara in 2010, but one basic tenet has remained in the policy on Gaza – separation between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. A new position paper analyzes the policy, the damage it has done, and its legality. Continue reading →

Posted in Movement of people into Gaza, Movement of people out of Gaza, Seperation Policy | Leave a comment

Let them study

Posted on June 4, 2015
Rafah crossing has been open with decreasing frequency. Photo: Gisha

Hundreds of students from Gaza are enrolled in universities abroad for the coming academic year. Since Rafah Crossing remains closed most of the time, the only practical route goes through Israel. In theory, the Israeli authorities have no objection, so what’s the problem? Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment

The man who cooks with the sun

Posted on June 1, 2015
“I want to see the young people of Gaza turn to alternative energy”. Bashir

A story of ingenuity and creativity: Khaled Bashir lives in the Gaza Strip, and like everyone in Gaza, he too suffers from a never-ending shortage of electricity and gas. Unlike everyone else, Bashir invented a solar oven. Necessity yields slow, healthy and environmentally friendly cooking Continue reading →

Posted in General | 6 Comments

The Ministry of Economic Defense

Posted on May 21, 2015
There is zero reference to security in the entire response. Photo: Eman Mihammed

We asked the security establishment for information about the procedures for transit of goods from Gaza in the West Bank. Instead of procedures, we received a complex list of considerations. Surprisingly, none of them are related to security Continue reading →

Posted in economic development, Movement of goods out of Gaza | 2 Comments

It’s Freedom of Information Week in Israel – What about at the Defense Ministry?

Posted on May 20, 2015

Seventeen years ago, the Knesset passed the Freedom of Information Act, obligating public authorities to be transparent in their operations. What seems self-evident is far from being a reality, especially when those who need the information are Palestinian Continue reading →

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Pressing play on a paused economy

Posted on April 26, 2015
Industries whose representatives were interviewed for the study. From right to left, top to bottom: high-tech, furniture, agriculture, textile, food processing. Photos: Gisha

In November 2014, Israel canceled the sweeping ban on sale of Gaza-made and grown goods in the West Bank. Against this backdrop, we gathered leading figures in five manufacturing sectors in Gaza in order to hear from them about the obstacles they face on the way to realizing their potential and about their hope for a better future. Continue reading →

Posted in economic development, General, Looking Forward, Movement of goods out of Gaza, Movement of people into Gaza, Movement of people out of Gaza, Seperation Policy | Leave a comment

Is getting a timely response too much to ask?

Posted on March 29, 2015
A person who wants to travel from Gaza for her mother’s open-heart surgery or for her brother’s wedding, can’t afford to lose time waiting for a response to her request. Illustration: Noam Rabinovich

Once in a while decisions are made that manage to surprise even us. This time, the authorities decided that they can respond to requests to travel from Gaza whenever they feel like it, even long after the requests are no longer relevant Continue reading →

Posted in Movement of people into Gaza, Movement of people out of Gaza | Leave a comment

Catching the right wave

Posted on March 26, 2015
Seventy-five percent of Gaza’s population is under 30. Why are surfers such a rare sight along the coast? Photo: Gisha

Young surfers are a rare sight on Gaza’s long and beautiful coastline. One American organization hopes to change that and is sending Ibrahim Arafat from Gaza all the way to Hawaii to receive training on opening and running a community center for surfing. Six months later, Israel allows the surfer to exit Gaza. Continue reading →

Posted in Human rights, Movement of people out of Gaza | Leave a comment