28.08.2006
A motion to grant relief in an urgent petition to open the border crossings to Gaza for the regular supply of fuel, food, medicines and essential equipment: the motion follows further humanitarian deterioration in Gaza, an outcome of the ongoing prevention of shipments of essential supplies to the population
On August 28, 2006, six human rights organizations filed a motion to grant relief as part of their urgent petition to the High Court of Justice (HCJ) against the Defense Minister and the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), filed some six weeks ago, demanding to open the Gaza border crossings for the regular supply of food, medicines, and essential goods, as well as the immediate renewal of regular fuel supply to Gaza. The hearing, presided by President Aharon Barak and Justices Dorit Beinicsh and Eliezer Rivlin, was held in mid July and no decision has been issued since. The petition and motion were both filed by the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, Physicians for Human Rights, HaMoked: Center for the Defence of the Individual, B’Tselem - The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories, the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel, and Gisha: Legal Center for Freedom of Movement.
The current motion followed the deteriorating situation in Gaza - in direct result of the Israeli security forces' acts, obstructing regular shipments of humanitarian supplies to Gaza via the border crossings, kept in total Israeli control.
The shortage in staple goods has lead to price increases in Gaza - 15% for flour and 33% for sugar. Additionally, fuel is scarce, as fuel demand increased heavily since the air strike on the Gaza power station in late June. The hit resulted in an intermittent supply of electricity, thus leading to the high demand for fuel for generators, required for the operation of health clinics, cold-storage of food stuff and pharmaceutics, and for maintaining humanitarian activities in the Gaza Strip. Today, August 24, 2006, UNRWA has only a week's supply of fuel left– taking to account that the Gaza residents have only 6-8 hours of electricity each day.
In response, the state claimed to be monitoring the Gaza situation "as best it can in the circumstances" and that it allows access of "sufficient" humanitarian supplies. The organizations respond by clarifying that the state is obligated to more than just preventing a hunger situation. Furthermore, it is the duty of the security forces to allow supplies to enter so as to satisfy all the humanitarian needs of the Gaza residents, and allow the continuation of normal life; this includes guaranteed passage of equipment for sustaining health and education services, commerce, all of which require constant supply of products via the crossings to Gaza. The organizations added that under humanitarian law, Israel is obliged to at least allow aid organizations to assist the vulnerable population.
