The Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) continued imposing the siege and closure they had imposed on the Gaza Strip despite the progress of the completion of evacuation of Jewish settlers and the demolition of almost all the structures in the settlements.
The internal restrictions resulted in depriving hundreds of Palestinian students from their right to education since they have been denied access to schools and universities within the Strip.
According to Al Mezan Center’s fieldworkers, the IOF continue to prevent movement in the Strip’s main Salah Ad-Din Street, which connects north and south areas.
The Checkpoint closing this street opens only on Friday evening and Saturday.
On the other hand, the IOF have completely isolated people in the besieged areas of Al Mawasi in Rafah and Khanyounis, Al Maani in Deir Al Balah, Abu Nahia, and Al Syafa in the north.
According to the fieldwork reports, the IOF have prevented approximately 200 university and high school, science section, students from returning their homes in Al Mawasi area.
IOF notified them that they would be allowed to return after one month from their exit of the area.
They also deprived 84 students in Al Ma'ani and Abu Nahia areas from going to their schools for the second day.
In As Syafa area, IOF notified the residents that the 17 schoolchildren would be allowed to exit at 7:00am yesterday and return at 1:30pm.
They allowed them to exit, but let 11 of them to return in the afternoon.
Students who are over 16-years-old were denied entry to their homes inside the area.
This arrangement also prevents students whose schools start in the afternoon shift from education.
Al Mezan Center for Human Rights condemns the policy of closure imposed on Palestinian civilians inside the Gaza Strip.
This policy, which has been intensified since 16 August 2005, gravely affected different life aspects, especially access to health care, education and economic activity.
Al Mezan emphasizes that these restrictions at this particular time, by the commencement of the school year, are expected to seriously violate the Palestinians basic rights to education, movement and access and only add to the deterioration of the human rights situation in the OPT.
The Center also asserts that such violations constitute grave breaches under the international humanitarian law.
As such, Al Mezan calls upon the international community to pressure Israel to put an end to such conducts and to lift the restrictions of their movement, especially considering the outrageous suffering IOF’s policies incur on civilian life and safety.
Israel’s38-years-old occupation and restrictions should not continue under the disengagement.
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