Agreement on Movement and Access (AMA) – Seventeenth bi-weekly implementation report (OCHA)

The United Nations¹ is submitting the 17^th bi-weekly report on the implementation of the 15 November Agreement on Movement and Access (AMA), covering the period 28 June – 11 July 2006 inclusive.²

• The Rafah crossing has remained closed since 25 June since EU observers were not allowed through Kerem Shalom crossing, to reach the Rafah terminal. As of 11 July there are 578 people including UNRWA staff and medical referrals trapped at the terminal on the Egyptian side of the border waiting to enter the Gaza Strip.³

• The Karni crossing was closed between 25 June and 1 July. It re-opened partially on 2, 4 and 6 July for imports only. The number of truckloads which entered on these days (the maximum number was 133) is well below the daily averages reported in May and June 2006. Karni was closed again from 7 July. No exported goods have crossed through Karni since 23 June.

• The Kerem Shalom crossing has remained closed since 25 June, following an attack by Palestinian militants on an IDF observation post.

• The Sufa crossing has remained closed since 21 June, due to a reported security alert by the IDF.

• The Erez crossing has remained closed for Palestinian workers and traders during the reporting period.⁴ Since 25 June, only critical Palestinian humanitarian cases with prior coordination from the Israeli DCL were permitted to cross. Following the closure of Karni since 7 July, WFP and ICRC were able to coordinate with the IDF the passage of palletised food and other urgent humanitarian supplies through Erez crossing between 7 and 11 July.

• The deadline for the introduction of truck convoys between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank as agreed in the AMA, passed on 15 January. Discussions about the possibility of bus convoys have not resumed.

• The Government of Israel (GoI) has not provided the assurance to donors that it will not interfere with the operation of the Gaza Strip seaport.

• There have been no discussions on the Gaza Strip airport during the reporting period. Since 28 June, IDF troops entered the airport and took up military positions there.

• According to OCHA, the number of obstacles to movement in the West Bank increased from 526 to 536. OCHA compiles several times a year comprehensive count of physical obstacles to Palestinian movement in the West Bank. The figures reported here are based on OCHA field observations only.

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1 The Office of the Quartet’s Special Envoy closed on 28 April. The United Nations has assumed reporting responsibilities on the implementation of the AMA.

2 The report draws on all available data sources for reporting including the EU, UN agencies, PA ministries, PalTrade, COGAT and the World Bank.

3 According to EU Border Assistance Mission (EU BAM), Rafah was expected to open partially on 6 and then 7 July to allow these passengers to cross but this did not happen. The IDF did not open the crossing, insisting that the passengers use the Kerem Shalom crossing which was not agreed to by the PA.

4 Erez has been closed for Palestinians workers and traders since 12 March. According to the Palestinian Ministry of National Economy a limited number of Palestinian traders with permits were permitted to cross through Erez in spite of the general closure since late April but this coordination has also stopped since 25 June.