Lost in Translation

Posted on August 31, 2016

After a long legal battle, COGAT was forced to translate documents to Arabic for the benefit of Palestinians, but produced meaningless texts Continue reading →

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

Fishing for answers about the dual-use list, coming up dry

Posted on June 16, 2016

Basic materials needed for construction and maintenance of fishing boats are included on the list of “dual-use” items banned from entering the Gaza Strip without a special permit. In practice, this allows Israel to deny Gaza’s fishing sector the items most essential for its survival. Continue reading →

Posted in Movement of goods into Gaza | Leave a comment

Making it official: Arabic isn’t just relevant today

Posted on May 24, 2016

For the first time in its history, Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, is marking Arabic Language Day – something certainly worth marking, yet the pomp and ceremony may be a little exaggerated Continue reading →

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The long road to Gaza

Posted on May 5, 2016

An Israeli Ministry of Transportation decision to limit traffic on the road leading to Gaza’s sole commercial crossing has been delayed thanks to a court petition. Meanwhile, Israel’s Minister of Defense announced that he gave orders to open Erez Crossing, in the northern Gaza Strip, to traffic of commercial goods. A solution must be found to the dangerous conditions on the road leading to Kerem Shalom, but one that preserves access for goods to and from Gaza. Continue reading →

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

Split apart: Civil society organizations in Gaza in their own words

Posted on April 20, 2016

April 10, 2016. Palestinian civil society organizations in Gaza, which operate in the space between government and the population, are strongly impacted by Israel’s separation policy. A new report published by Gisha, based on a series of meetings in Gaza with dozens of representatives of civil society organizations, shares the stories of the organizations and the challenges they face in their work as a result of the policy, as told in their own words. The report also gives a peek at the impressive work and tremendous potential of the third sector in Gaza. Continue reading →

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“Restrictions on freedom of movement take a toll on women in the Gaza Strip”

Posted on March 8, 2016
Clients were suspicious of feminist activities. Adv. Zeinab al-Ghonaimi

International Women’s Day: The founder of the Center for Women’s Legal Research and Consulting in the Gaza Strip devotes her life to a more equitable world Continue reading →

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

Checking the “dual-use” list twice

Posted on January 31, 2016
After Operation Protective Edge in 2014, tens of thousands rendered homeless remained in shelters run by the United Nations. Photo: Eduardo Soteras Jalil

The items Israel classifies as “dual-use”- that is, items that can be used for both civilian and military purposes – whose entrance to the Gaza Strip is restricted, is much broader than international standards dictate. In the balance between security needs and harm to civilian lives, it appears that Gaza residents don’t even figure. Continue reading →

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

Let’s talk about transparency

Posted on January 26, 2016
Joint statement by civil society organizations operating in Israel published today

Those who choose to support us do so because of who we are; we don’t change because of who they are Continue reading →

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The good news: The cabinet talked about the policy on Gaza. The bad news: No change is in sight

Posted on January 24, 2016

After years of mounting evidence that the Israeli Security Cabinet had not properly deliberated its Gaza policy, suddenly it appears it has. The only trouble is that there’s no sign of change on the ground. Continue reading →

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(Re)-introducing the functional approach to occupation

Posted on December 15, 2015
Among other things, Israel also controls Gaza’s airspace. Gaza’s destroyed airport. Photo: Diana Whitten

The International Committee of the Red Cross has officially adopted the position known as “the functional approach” to the question of occupation. We’ll use it as an opportunity to re-examine the functional approach and explain how it’s connected to Israel’s policies in Gaza Continue reading →

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