Gaza Crossings’ Operations Status: Monthly Update – November 2015 – OCHA factsheet

BACKGROUND 

Longstanding restrictions on the movement of people and goods to and from Gaza have undermined the living conditions of 1.8 million Palestinians in Gaza. Many of the current restrictions, originally imposed by Israel in the early 1990s, were intensified after June 2007, following the Hamas takeover of Gaza and the imposition of a blockade. These restrictions have reduced access to livelihoods, essential services and housing, disrupted family life, and undermined people’s hopes for a secure and prosperous future. The situation has been compounded by the restrictions imposed since June 2013 by the Egyptian authorities at Rafah Crossing, which had become the main crossing point used by Palestinian passengers in the Gaza Strip, given the above restrictions on the Israeli- controlled crossings.

EREZ CROSSING

• In November, Erez crossing was open for 26 days.

• The number of crossings during November increased by 6% compared to the monthly average in the previous ten months .

• Accessible only to Israeli issued permit holders, primarily medical and other humanitarian cases, merchants, and aid workers.

• This month, the Israeli authorities announced the application of stricter conditions for the issuance of permits to patients' companions under the age of 55.

RAFAH CROSSING

• In Rafah was closed on all days during November 2015.

• The crossing has been closed since 24 October 2014, except for 37 days.

• There are at least 30,000 Palestinians registered as humanitarian cases waiting to leave Gaza via Rafah.

EXIT OF GOODS

• Kerem Shalom operated on 21 out of 26 scheduled days during daytime (08:00 – 19:00).

• 150 truckloads of goods exited Gaza, the largest such figure in a single month since the imposition of the blockade in 2007. The goods included:

ENTRY OF GOODS

• Kerem Shalom operated on all the 26 scheduled days, allowing the entry of 11,689 truckloads of goods, the largest such figure in a single month since the imposition of the blockade.

• The volume of imports increased by 93% compared to the monthly average since the beginning of 2015 and was the highest since 2005.

• 16% of the truckloads that entered in November were designated for aid agencies.

• 2,410 truckloads carried restricted construction materials, and 5,095 truckloads of aggregate, which is no longer on the dual use items list.

• Karni. Sufa and Nahal Oz crossinas with Israel remained closed.

* Primarily includes cement and steel bars, aggregates removed from dual use materials list.

**The GRM is a temporary agreement between the Government of Palestine and the Government of Israel, brokered by the United Nations in September 2014, to allow the entry of dual use items, including building materials for repairs and reconstruction of private housing and infrastructure damaged or destroyed during the hostilities, as well as new projects not related to damages during hostilities. Prior to the GRM the import of construction material was limited to international organizations following a lengthy approval procedure, but not for the private sector or shelter self-help programs.

FUEL IMPORTS

Kerem Shalom was the only crossing available for the import of fuel, allowing the entry of:

• 6.4 million liters of petrol & diesel.

• 6.8 million liters of industrial fuel for the Gaza power plant.

• 5,079 tons of cooking gas.