“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 →

Posted in General, Human rights | Leave a comment

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 →

Posted in economic development, General, Human rights | Leave a comment

(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 →

Posted in Human rights, scale of control | Leave a comment

Marking Human Rights Day in a home without a roof

Posted on December 10, 2015
The building was declared unfit to live in. Ayman Abu Odeh’s wife. Photo: Gisha

Ayman Abu Odeh’s dilemma, whether to move to an inadequate, temporary housing unit, or hold on to what’s left of his family’s three-story building symbolizes the state of human rights in Gaza Continue reading →

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COGAT’s PR is only in English – what’s he saying and to whom?

Posted on November 19, 2015
The figures also fail to mention what comes under the “other” rubric, or what constitutes “humanitarian”. The photo is taken from COGAT's Twitter page

For over five months, the website of the Coordinator for Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) has been down. Information COGAT puts out is published on social media and only in English. This is what it looks like when hasbara (propaganda) replaces information an official government body is obligated to provide to the public Continue reading →

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

Wood is also essential for reconstruction

Posted on November 5, 2015
Wood is of course critical for the furniture sector. Photo: Eman Mohammed

A man from Gaza was arrested in late August for allegedly selling construction materials to militant operatives in the Strip. Construction materials have continued to enter Gaza despite this and rightfully so. For the same reason, Israel must allow entrance of wood to the Strip Continue reading →

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

Marketing of furniture from Gaza in Israel permitted – wood to the make the furniture is not

Posted on November 2, 2015
Why would Hamas activists raid lumber stocks in the Gaza Strip specifically? Photo: Gene Han, flickr. CC BY-NC 2.0

Israel recently announced it would allow sale of Gaza-made furniture in its territory. Why weren’t Gaza’s furniture manufacturers pleased? Israel all but bans wood from entering the Strip. The latest farce, brought to you by the Gaza closure. Continue reading →

Posted in economic development, Movement of goods into Gaza, Movement of goods out of Gaza | 1 Comment

Medical treatment in jeopardy for thousands

Posted on September 21, 2015
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COGAT’s list of exceptions to the ban on travel from Gaza no longer includes a quota that allowed access to medical treatment for thousands of people in need of “non-urgent” care Continue reading →

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