Gazan Palestinian Rights in the Territories

August 17, 2024

Over 50,000 Palestinian Gazans, majority civilians have been killed by the Israeli military in less than one year of constant bombardment of missiles and drone attacks; over 50,000 missiles have been dropped on the Gaza strip.

Here are some facts presently....

Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip are not Israeli citizens and their rights are severely limited by the Israeli military occupation.

In the West Bank, Israeli military law governs Palestinian life, while Jewish settlers in the same area are subject to Israeli civil law. This results in an apartheid dual legal system.

Palestinians in the West Bank need permits to enter Israel and face restrictions on movement within the West Bank itself. They have limited access to resources, face land confiscations, evictions of their own homes, house demolitions, and are subject to military checkpoints.

In Gaza, since the blockade began in 2007, Gazans have faced severe restrictions on movement, trade, and access to basic necessities.

Palestinian Gazans have no direct access to Israeli courts and are subjected to airstrikes, military incursions, and other forms of war violence.

Gaza is a densely populated strip of land about 41 kilometers long and 10 kilometers wide, and movement to travel outside of Gaza is restricted. The gaza strip is considered an open air prison due to the restrictions imposed by the Israeli government.

Gaza has no functioning airport or seaport due to Israeli restrictions and military actions. Gazans are confined within the Gaza territory.

Israel controls the entry of goods into Gaza through the Kerem Shalom Crossing, the only commercial crossing. While basic goods like food and medicine are generally allowed in, other items are restricted or banned.

Israel maintains a "dual-use" list, which includes materials that could be used for military purposes, such as construction materials, which are heavily restricted. This has led to severe shortages of building materials, affecting infrastructure projects, including homes, schools, and hospitals.

The export of goods from Gaza is also restricted.

Gaza's water situation is dire. At present, 100% of the water from the coastal aquifer is unsafe for human consumption due to pollution, over-extraction and Israeli bombings. Desalination plants incapacitated due to electricity shortages and damage from Israeli military operations.

Gazans often rely on purchasing expensive bottled water for drinking.

Gaza faces chronic electricity shortages. The electricity supply fluctuates between 4 or less hours a day, depending on fuel availability and the functioning of the power plant.

Food insecurity is widespread in Gaza, with 100% of the population relying on food aid from international organizations. Restrictions on imports and the destruction of agricultural land during israeli bombing have severely impacted food availability.

Fuel imports are in critical short supply that affect transportation, electricity generation, and the functioning of hospitals and water treatment plants.

Many advanced medical treatments are not available in Gaza, most patients, particularly those with serious illnesses like cancer, have their permit requests denied or delayed, with fatal consequences.

98% of Gazans are not allowed to work in Israel since 2007. Today, no Gazans have permits to work in Israel.

Gazans do not have access to Israeli social services, such as education, Healthcare, food aid, which are reserved for Israeli citizens and residents.

Gaza’s healthcare system is under immense strain, with hospitals facing shortages of medicines, equipment, and electricity.

Gaza's education system is non-existent, most schools and universities are bombed out.

Children and adults are victims of high levels of trauma, anxiety, depression, and PTSD due to the repeated exposure to war violence, loss, and the stress of living under blockade.

Gazans face restrictions on cultural and recreational activities. Public spaces such as parks, sports facilities, and cultural centers are completely damaged and unusable.

Gaza’s waste management system is completely damaged and unusable. Landfills are overburdened, and waste disposal is inadequately managed, leading to environmental pollution, creating the spread of diseases.

Israeli-imposed buffer zones along Gaza’s borders severely restrict access to agricultural land. Farmers are unable to access their land due to the threat of Israeli military action, including shooting at those who approach the border areas. Much of the farmland near the borders has been destroyed and is unusable due to bombing damage.

Gaza’s fishing zone is not allowed. Palestinian Gazan fishermen who venture into the Mediterranean off the coast of Gaza risk being shot at, having their boats confiscated, or being arrested by the Israeli navy.

Schools and universities in Gaza have been destroyed, leaving students without educational facilities.

Many Gazan students who wish to pursue obtain a visa permit to study abroad are not granted by Israel.

Internet access in Gaza non-existent and blocked by the Israeli military censorship and Israeli government due to the ongoing military bombing of Gaza.

Gazans are cut off from the West Bank and East Jerusalem, which are part of the Palestinian territories but separated by Israeli territory. This isolation affects family reunification, and access to religious sites. It also limits economic ties between Gaza and the West Bank.

The economy of Gaza is in a state of collapse due to the blockade, and Israeli military bombing.

Unemployment rate in Gaza is over 90%. The only individuals that are working are essential Healthcare workers.

Due to the severe restrictions on the economy and the blockade, the majority of Gaza’s population is dependent on humanitarian aid for survival via United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), but even their operations are hampered by restrictions imposed by Israel.

The youth in Gaza, who make up a large percentage of the population, face high unemployment rates, limited educational opportunities, and constant exposure to War trauma and mass killings via bombings of Israeli, drones and missiles, many young people experience hopelessness, despair, and extreme depression.

The chronic stress of living under blockade since 2007, recurrent mass killings via Israeli bombings, and severe economic hardship contribute to a high prevalence of mental health issues in Gaza, such as depression, anxiety, and PTSD.

Mental health services in Gaza are severely limited or non-existent.

Suicide rates in Gaza are reportedly been on the rise due to the extreme war trauma of 50,000+ bombings, drone strikes, and shootings from the Israeli military.

There have been reports from various NGOs, progressive Israeli and Western media sources of increasing incidents of suicide and self-harm, among young Gazans, as a result of the deteriorating living conditions and lack of hope and a deep sense of helplessness.

All these facts regarding the Palestinian Gazans and the apartheid state of Israel will be told for many generations in high school and university history courses in many countries around the world.

Here are some blogs from Gaza:

Life in Gaza is even harder than it appears on screen

Israel's war on Gaza

Covering Gaza: The deadliest war for journalists

More than three quarters of the 99 journalists killed worldwide in 2023 were killed in Gaza