Israel closes crossings between Gaza and Israel, blocks all access to “fishing zone”
March 25, 2019. This morning the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories closed the crossings between Israel and Gaza to movement of people and goods and imposed a sweeping prohibition on access to the “fishing zone” off Gaza’s coast. Trucks arriving at Kerem Shalom Crossing are being turned away, and exit of people from the Strip via Erez Crossing is limited to humanitarian exceptions. These measures are extremely damaging to residents of Gaza. Read More »

Human rights organizations in Israel: The fundamental rights of Gaza residents should not be conditional on politics
March 17, 2019. The Association for Civil Rights in Israel, B’Tselem, Gisha and Physicians for Human Rights Israel express concern about and object to the arrests and violent dispersal of demonstrations in the Gaza Strip. Read More »

Unemployment rate in Gaza reaches new record-high of 52 percent in 2018
March 13, 2019. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, the unemployment rate in Gaza reached 52 percent in 2018, nearly eight percent higher than 2017 and more than 20 percent higher than 2007. Read More »

Women in Gaza are breaking ceilings
March 8, 2019. International Women’s Day is being marked today around the world. For us at Gisha, it’s an opportunity to reflect on the prices, both economic and personal, that Palestinian women in the Gaza Strip pay as a result of the closure tightened by Israel in 2007. Read More »

Gisha calls on Israel to adopt the recommendations of the UN Commission of Inquiry: The closure and the unlawful and excessive use of force against demonstrators must end
February 28, 2019. Israel continues to enforce a suffocating closure on Gaza, which primarily targets civilians, and continues to fire on unarmed demonstrators who pose no threat to life, week after week, in absolute prohibition of international law. The future of the region as a whole depends on respect for human rights and basic humanity.  Read More »

Israel expands a small section of Gaza’s “fishing zone” to 12 nautical miles. Other sections remain limited to 6 nautical miles
February 28, 2019. For the first time since 2000, Israel is allowing access up to a distance of 12 nautical miles off the coast of Gaza, but only over the middle area of the Strip. Read More »

Kerem Shalom Crossing operating as usual, despite withdrawal of PA employees
February 18, 2019. PA representatives did not arrive to their posts at Kerem Shalom Crossing following disputes between the Palestinian factions, Hamas and Fatah. The crossing is operating as it had before November 2017. Read More »

In 2018, 31% of applications filed by Gaza patients to travel via Erez Crossing for medical treatment were answered too late, or not at all
February 11, 2019. According to figures released by the World Health Organization, only 61% of the 25,897 permit applications submitted by Gaza residents in 2018 to travel via Erez Crossing to obtain medical treatment were approved by Israel. Read More »

Rafah Crossing reopened for travel in and out of Gaza until further notice, Salah A-Din Gate reopened for entry of goods into the Strip
February 4, 2019. Rafah Crossing was reopened on February 3 and is due to remain open indefinitely. Salah A-Din Gate was reopened last Thursday, allowing goods that had been held up on the Egyptian side of the gate for as long as ten days to enter the Strip. Read More »

High Court refuses to conduct a principled discussion on a draconian directive stipulating unreasonable processing times for permit applications submitted by Gaza residents
January 30, 2019. The High Court was asked to review Israel’s processing times as a matter of principle, but it favored a discussion on individual cases. It decided not to accept our request to amend the petition according to its requirements. Read More »

Rafah Crossing opened for travel to and from Gaza for three days only. Salah A-Din Gate closed to movement of goods
January 29, 2019. On January 8, Rafah Crossing was closed to exits from Gaza after being regularly opened since mid-May. Gaza suppliers report that entrance of goods to Gaza via Salah A-Din Gate has stopped. Read More »

Rafah Crossing still closed to exit from Gaza
Update (January 28, 2019): Three weeks ago, the PA announced its decision to remove its employees from Rafah Crossing between Gaza and Egypt. The continued operation of the crossing, which has been opened consecutively since mid-May 2018 after being mostly closed for five years, is uncertain. Read More »

Increased power supply improves water distribution in Gaza, but progress appears to be temporary
December 30, 2018. Two months after Gaza’s sole power plant resumed operating three of its turbines, residents receive up to 11 hours of electricity per day, increasing water supply to households. A sustainable solution to Gaza’s electricity crisis is still needed. Read More »