NCF Research Officer Freddie Holloway delivers an oral intervention to the 52nd session of the United Nations Human Rights Council, in the general debate on Item 7 concerning the human rights situation in Palestine and other occupied Arab territories. Freddie addresses the United Nations in the context of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip.
Transcript:
The blockade imposed by the State of Israel and the Arab Republic of Egypt on the Gaza Strip is directly responsible for a perpetual humanitarian crisis that severely impacts the territory’s almost two million residents.
Although Israel has legitimate security concerns due to the ongoing threat of rocket attacks, the blockade is hugely disproportionate to the stated military objective of preventing weapons smuggling. It restricts a wide range of goods, preventing the construction of safe, sanitary housing and reducing the population to poverty.
Furthermore, such policies, which potentially constitute collective punishment, are directly counter-productive. They inspire heightened resentment and desperation, and further undermine the stability and security that they seek to promote.
The Next Century Foundation calls on Israel and Egypt to end the blockade, and to implement specific interim measures.
Firstly, Israel should greatly increase licenses for the import of vital materials, whilst continuing to carry out border checks to counter arms smuggling.
Secondly, Israel, the Republic of Cyprus, and the European Union should urgently revisit previous proposals for a Cyprus-to-Gaza maritime corridor under agreed monitoring arrangements, allowing for imports and exports.
Moreover, Israel should honour its commitments under the Oslo Accords to allow Gazan fishermen access up to 20 nautical miles out to sea, guarantee safe, regular access to all agricultural land outside the 100 metre-wide buffer zone, and swiftly increase permits for family and medical visits to the West Bank and abroad.
Thank you.
