No laptops, food or toiletries for Palestinians crossing Erez

CAIRO – 13 August 2017: “Gisha”, an Israeli not-for-profit human rights organization, reported that the Israeli occupation authorities have set new guidelines for Palestinians crossing through the Erez crossing between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

Furthermore, the organization reported on its website that its coordinators received the new guidelines by email from the Gaza Coordination and Liaison Administration (CLA), which is responsible for implementing the policy of the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) at the Erez crossing.

Gisha further mentioned that these instructions were not published anywhere, including on the “Status of Closure Authorizations”, where all new directives are usually published. The organization also explained that “it is unclear how, why and through what process these restrictions were instituted” or who authorized them, adding that there is no way to appeal the restrictions.

The new guidelines forbid the few Palestinians allowed to leave the Gaza Strip from “carrying electronic devices other than cellular phones,” according to Gisha. This means that those leaving the Strip for extended periods, such as students, can’t carry laptops with them while crossing at Erez. All new guidelines will be applied on Palestinian employees of international organizations, even if they are crossing through Erez for work purposes.

They also forbid travelers from carrying food, even for personal consumption along the road. The only exception is for medical patients’ companions and people visiting family members imprisoned in Israel, who will be allowed to pass through with food for personal consumption under “humanitarian reasons”.

Furthermore, “people exiting Gaza, from all categories, are now forbidden to pass through Erez carrying hard-sided luggage and are barred from bringing with them toiletries of any type. Travelers who are not Palestinian are exempt from these restrictions, obligated only to declare any electronic devices included in their luggage,” Gisha stated.

These new guidelines complicate the already difficult journey to travel from the Gaza Strip. According to Gisha, these “security checks on luggage, toiletries, laptops and food are standard at airports, train stations, and other transit terminals around the world.

Those checks are necessary and we all cope with the extra time it takes for the sake of keeping our fellow passengers and ourselves safe. The new directive reveals that Israeli authorities aren’t willing to conduct these basic checks on items that any traveler needs; that they don’t appreciate that students and businesspeople from Gaza also need to travel with laptops like anyone else in the world. It can happen because Israel doesn’t pay a price for inconveniencing Gaza residents, and just like that, from one day to the next, not even a sandwich can get through Erez Crossing.”

Few Palestinians from Gaza are permitted to cross through Erez, the only crossing point that connects the Gaza Strip with the West Bank and occupied Palestinian territories.

Israeli occupation authorities enforce a quota system for certain allowed categories, which include Palestinian employees of international and United Nations (UN) organizations, patients and businessmen. From time to time, they would grant groups of Palestinians above 45 years old a 12-hour permit to travel to pray at al-Aqsa Mosque.

Palestinians have to apply for the permit at least 15 working days prior to their travel date, and they might go through a security clearance and security check process that can last for up to 60 days until the applicant hears a positive or negative response.

Gisha is an Israeli not-for-profit organization founded in 2005. Its goal is to protect the freedom of movement of Palestinians, especially Gaza residents. Gisha promotes rights guaranteed by international and Israeli law. Gisha, whose name means both “access” and “approach”, uses legal assistance and public advocacy to protect the rights of Palestinian residents. Because freedom of movement is a precondition for exercising other basic rights, Gisha’s work has a multiplier effect in helping residents of the occupied territories access education, jobs, family members and medical care. As part of its legal work, Gisha represents individuals and organizations in Israeli administrative proceedings and courts.