International Women’s Day 2011: Two stories from Gaza
March 2011. In honor of International Women’s Day, we share two stories that illustrate the challenges life in Gaza poses for women and also successful attempts to overcome travel restrictions in order to work towards promoting the status of Gaza’s women.
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Publications
2011
The Turkel Commission and the Maritime Closure of Gaza
January 2011. The Turkel Commission was asked to examine the May 31, 2010 maritime flotilla incident and to determine whether the maritime closure of the Gaza Strip was in accordance with international law. In this position paper Gisha outlines its position that the overall closure imposed on the Gaza Strip, including the maritime closure, is illegal.
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Public letter from the founders of Gisha in response to attacks on human rights organizations
January 2011. An open letter written by Gisha’s founders in response to a proposal to establish a parliamentary committee of inquiry to investigate Israeli human rights organizations’ sources of funding. The letter expresses concern over the attempt to undermine the legitimacy of civil society organizations.
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2010
Reconstructing the Closure: Will recent changes to the closure policy be enough to build in Gaza?
December 2010. Following the flotilla incident, on June 20, 2010, the government of Israel announced its intention to allow most goods into Gaza, including building materials for specific, international projects. This position paper examines the implementation of those declarations, highlighting the impact of the restrictions which remain in place.
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Facts Behind MFA Report on “Easing” of Gaza Closure
July 2010. The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a report detailing steps taken to improve Gaza’s economy pursuant to a June 20, 2010 Israeli Cabinet decision to “ease” the closure. Gisha analyzes what is true and what would be more true about the MFA report.
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Unraveling the closure of Gaza: What has and hasn’t changed since the Cabinet decision and what are the implications?
July 2010. On June 20, 2010 Israel’s Security Cabinet issued a plan to facilitate access for civilian goods entering Gaza and expand economic activity. In this position paper, Gisha assesses the cabinet’s plan and the situation on the ground in Gaza in the weeks following the cabinet decision.
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Frequently Asked Questions: Restrictions on passage of goods into and out of Gaza
June 2010. Gisha answers commonly asked questions regarding the closure of Gaza including about which kinds of goods can enter, if there is a humanitarian crisis, what constitutes Israel’s responsibility to allow for passage of goods, and if the restrictions are meant to address concrete security threats.
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Partial List of Items Prohibited/Permitted into the Gaza Strip
June 2010. The list is based on information from Palestinian traders and businesspersons, international organizations, and the Palestinian Coordination Committee, all of whom “deduce” what is permitted and what is banned based on their experience, prior to the policy change of June 2010.
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FAQs: The transit of merchants, goods, and raw materials between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank
June 2010. Gisha explains why even after the “disengagement” Israel is still responsible for the transfer of goods into and out of Gaza, describes the ban on the entry of raw materials into the Gaza Strip and explains that the prevention of the free passage of goods is not a response to concrete security threats.
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Electricity Shortage in Gaza: Who Turned Out the Lights? May 2010
May 2010. This position paper examines the involvement and responsibility of the various parties for the electricity crisis in the Gaza Strip, describes its consequences for the lives of the residents of the Gaza Strip and suggests actions that can be taken to resolve it.
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The Impact of the Separation between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank on Higher Education
May 2010. The separation between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank contributes to the stagnation of the higher education system in the Gaza Strip, prevents young Gaza residents from fulfilling their ambitions for personal and professional development, and undermines their hope to contribute to the development of a prosperous and healthy society in the Strip.
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Harm to Palestinian Civil Society Due to the Separation between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank
May 2010. The separation between Gaza and the West Bank limits non-governmental organizations’ ability to work to improve lives and conditions in the Palestinian territory, contributes to the stagnation of civil society and deepens the gaps between Palestinian society in Gaza and the West Bank.
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Separation of Families due to the Separation between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank
May 2010. The policy of separation between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank creates an almost impermeable barrier between the two areas, preventing routine contacts between members of extended families as well as violating the integrity of nuclear families, separating couples and keeping parents apart from their children.
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Damage to Trade between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank as a Result of the Separation Policy
May 2010. The ability to make a dignified living in the Gaza Strip, to maintain a productive society and develop an independent economy is diminishing as the closure of the Gaza Strip continues, including its restrictions on movement between the Gaza Strip and West Bank.
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FAQs: Movement of students from Gaza to the West Bank
May 2010. Gisha describes the higher education system in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, explains why students from Gaza admitted to West Bank universities cannot attend their studies and explains that the travel ban is not because of concrete security threats posed by the students.
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