The Israeli Occupation Forces Are Starving the Inhabitants of Palestinian Occupied Territories

The Israeli military forces are continuing the crimes initiated with the beginning of the Intifada, which in the last two weeks have seen a dangerous and qualitative escalation, specifically in terms of inflicting maximum civilian suffering.
This has been exemplified by the massacres committed in the Jenin Refugee Camp and the Nablus Casbah.
In the same time, the Israelis have continued their severe siege on Palestinian cities, preventing free travel and work, but also, in an unprecedented manner, extending to barring food supplies and other basic needs.
Since 28 March, 2002, the Israelis have heightened their siege over the Gaza Strip, imposing a closure of al Muntar passage, which is the only means through which food and other goods can reach the region.
This comes after the previous closures of the commercial passages in Rafah and Beit Hanoun since 9 October, 2000.
The occupation forces started to forbid Palestinians from free importation of wheat from abroad and have decreased the quantities allowed in from Israel.
Previously, staple food needs were ample enough for the people of Gaza Strip with reserves for a month, but now there are hardly reserves for one single day.
In the case that the Israelis choose to impose a total closure on the Gaza Strip, all basic goods, including oil, sugar, rice and wheat will run out quickly.
Nowadays Gaza’s districts are facing a real crisis from severe shortages of wheat available in markets, imposing the greatest suffering on average citizens who are not able to acquire basic daily needs.
According to Al Mezan Center’s information, this is a crisis generated solely from an organized policy by the Israeli occupation forces, summarized as follows: Gradually decreasing quantities of basic needs, which fall to levels below basic sustainability.
Preventing the Palestinian Milling Company (PMG), the Stri’ps main producer of flour, from obtaining necessary quantities of wheat.
Minimizing the production potential of the PMG by decreasing work hours allowed from 24 hours per day to 8 hours.
The production quantity of the PMG has decreased from 270 tons per day to only 65 tons, reflecting a substantial decrease in flour available to the market.
It should be noted that UNRWA stores which have fed Palestinian refugees is being rapidly depleted because it too is dependant on the PMG to provide flour.
The occupation forces have also been diminishing the fuel quantities allowed into the Palestinian Occupied Territories by three-quarters.
This is threatening many services with paralysis, especially humanitarian needs such as ambulances.
This is compounded by numerous cuts in electricity to the region.
The internal sieges imposed upon Gaza’s districts continue to impose great humanitarian suffering on Palestinian people, barring the transportation and dissemination of goods and fuel to the south.
This is due to Israeli forces which have decreased working hours during which trucks can move down to only one hour daily, if at all.
  Al Mezan has noted these crimes committed against the Palestinian people by the Israeli occupation forces, primarily in the prevention of transit of basic needs and medicines, constitute a form collective punishment on all people in the Occupied Territories.
These crimes constitute a near genocidal comprehensive destruction of Palestinian society through siege and starvation.
In light of these continued Israeli crimes against the civilian population, the Center is calling for: the international community to break its silence on this crisis and to uphold its legal and moral duties to protect the civilian inhabitants of the Palestinian Occupied Territories, which can put an end to these crimes.
  the immediate intervention to put a stop to the continuous Israeli aggressions and to lift this comprehensive siege.
an international force to intervene and protect the Palestinian people and their properties in the Occupied Territories.
This request is most urgent and necessary, especially in light of the inhuman and severe circumstances imposed upon the Palestinian people.
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