Gaza Policy Forum discusses Israel’s obligation to supply coronavirus vaccines to Palestinians living in the occupied Palestinian territory
March 3, 2021. A year after COVID-19 was declared a pandemic, more than half the people living in Israel have received both doses of the vaccine. Meanwhile, only a tiny number of vaccines have been made available to Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. While Israelis look forward with optimism toward an end to the health crisis, no plan has been put forth for supplying the vaccine to the vast majority of Palestinians living under occupation, including Gaza’s two million residents.  Read More »

Gisha in Freedom of Information request to COGAT: Provide information on the reevaluations of the “coronavirus closure” on Gaza
On Tuesday, March 16, 2021, Gisha filed a request for information under the Freedom of Information Act to Israel’s Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), the military authority in charge of implementing Israel’s policy vis-à-vis Palestinian travel between Gaza, Israel, the West Bank, and abroad. Read More »

Gisha and the Israel Road Transport Board in urgent letter to Israeli officials: Suspend the decision to step up enforcement on truck drivers transporting goods to Kerem Shalom
On Wednesday, March 3, 2021, Gabi Ben Harush, Director of the Israel Road Transport Board, and Tania Hary, Gisha Executive Director, called on the Minister of Defense and the Head of the National Bureau for Counter Terror Financing in Israel to immediately suspend their decision (Hebrew) to step up enforcement measures on truck drivers and freight companies that transport dual-use items to the Gaza Strip via Kerem Shalom Crossing. According to the decision, truck drivers are liable for ensuring that all goods in their cargo have the proper permits required by Israel. Read More »

Gisha and partner organizations in letter to Israeli authorities: Israel has a responsibility to ensure access to vaccines for Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank
Gisha and partner human rights organizations Physicians for Human Rights Israel, HaMoked: Center for the Defence of the Individual, and Rabbis for Human Rights wrote to Minister of Defense Benny Gantz, Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, Kamil Abu Rokon, and Health Ministry Director Professor Hezy Levy. Read More »

Gisha staff continue to participate in webinars, panels and briefings for Israeli, Palestinian and international audiences in public and in private about the situation in Gaza, particularly regarding the coronavirus
In May, Gisha’s Director of International Relations Beth Oppenheim and Gisha’s Field Coordinator in Gaza Mohammad Azaiza joined Limmud’s panel , Gaza and the coronavirus, Read More »

Gisha to Knesset Committee on the Rights of the Child: Allow parents from Gaza to accompany their children to medical treatment outside the Strip
Noa Galili, Gisha’s public advocacy coordinator, speaking to the Knesset committee. Screenshot from the Knesset channel On October 19, Gisha’s Public Advocacy Coordinator Noa Read More »

Gisha and 16 other organizations in letter to Israel’s Minister of Foreign Affairs: Stop the ministry’s harassment of United Nations OHCHR staff
October 22, 2020. The letter states: “These censorship attempts are bound to fail: They will not succeed in hiding the implications of Israel’s policy and the human rights violations it commits in the oPt, nor will they silence or hinder us, our work, or that of our colleagues.” Read More »

Gisha convenes Israeli, Palestinian and international stakeholders for Gaza Policy Forum 2020
In September 2020, Gisha convened a group of Israeli, Palestinian and international stakeholders for the Gaza Policy Forum. The purpose of the forum was to discuss the situation in the Gaza Strip and distill recommendations for actions that would advance solutions to Gaza’s urgent needs, help improve living conditions, and safeguard human rights. Read More »

With Gisha’s assistance, critical goods brought in to the Strip and medical equipment exits Gaza for repair
Several importers and business owners in Gaza were recently able to overcome bureaucratic obstacles put in place by Israel and access the materials and repair services they need, Read More »

Five Joint List members of Knesset in letter to Israeli defense minister: Lift punitive restrictions imposed on transit of goods via Kerem Shalom
On Thursday, five members of Knesset from the Joint List, Heba Yazbak, Ofer Cassif, Sondos Saleh, Jabar Asakla, Aida Touma-Suleiman, sent an urgent letter (Hebrew) to the Israeli defense minister and the acting defense minister, to demand that Israel lift the punitive restrictions imposed on transit of goods via Kerem Shalom Crossing. Read More »

Gisha and partner organizations speak to Knesset committee about alternative coordination mechanism for Gaza residents
On June 30, Gisha’s public advocacy coordinator, Noa Galili, participated in a session of the Knesset’s special committee on dealing with the coronavirus. The focus of the Read More »

Gisha and Physicians for Human Rights in letter to Chairperson of Knesset Coronavirus Committee: Convene the committee for urgent discussion on Israel’s plan for preventing the spread of COVID-19 in Gaza
On April 23, 2020, Gisha and Physicians for Human Rights Israel (PHRI), sent a letter (Hebrew) to the chairperson of the Special Committee on Dealing with the Coronavirus, Member Read More »

Gisha staff speak to Israeli, Palestinian and international audiences about Israel’s responsibilities towards Gaza amid COVID-19
Over the last few weeks, as people around the world searched for new ways to connect, learn, and work together, Gisha staff participated in webinars, panels and briefings for Israeli, Read More »