In the Gaza Strip, the right to freedom of movement is increasingly stifled under the guise of security, creating a profound humanitarian crisis. As the ongoing conflict exacerbates this situation, restrictions have become especially severe, obstructing vital healthcare access and essential supplies for the Palestinian population. This article delves into how such measures, while framed as security protocols, are reshaping life in Gaza and raising urgent humanitarian concerns.
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Khan Younis, Gaza Strip – Under international humanitarian law, freedom of movement is a fundamental right that encompasses essential protections such as the right to life, access to food, and education. However, in the Gaza Strip, this right has been systematically curtailed, becoming a means of control and collective punishment through a complex system of road closures, permits, and heavily enforced land crossings.
The Israeli military’s intensified operations against Gaza, which escalated in October 2023, have entrenched this system of control, strictly regulating who can cross borders, the quantity of humanitarian goods allowed, and the timing of these movements. Months into the conflict, what began as temporary “security measures” has morphed into a daily reality that redefines survival for countless Palestinians.
Every day, individuals such as patients in dire need of medical attention, students eager for educational opportunities, and families separated by borders confront the same impassable barrier: the Israeli-controlled land crossings. Central to this restrictive regime is the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, long viewed as Gaza’s only gateway to the outside world not directly under Israeli authority. Yet, in practice, Rafah has become integrated into the same control apparatus. Following Israel’s claim of “operational control” over the Palestinian side of the crossing on May 7, 2024, crucial lifelines for humanitarian aid and medical evacuations were effectively severed.
In the following weeks, reports from media outlets highlighted that aid trucks remained stranded, and food supplies spoiled under the sun while Rafah languished closed, despite critical humanitarian need. Consequently, the crossing has transformed into an instrument for collective regulation where restrictive measures dictate the access of vital supplies and aid. Israeli authorities exercise sweeping control over movement, affecting food supply chains, medical evacuations, and the basic human right of Palestinian civilians to travel and reunite with loved ones.
Following the closure of Rafah, alternative passageways for “pre-approved goods” and limited medical evacuations were opened selectively by Israeli forces. The United Nations has reiterated concerns about these crossings due to fluctuating military conditions, emphasizing that very few managed to function safely or reliably, with Karem Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) and Kissufim being the primary ones. The result is not a stable flow of aid but rather a volatile system that changes with military developments.
In northern Gaza, the situation deteriorated further when the Israeli army enforced separations, limiting not just entry into but also access within Gaza, isolating entire regions from essential supplies and services. What began as a restricted passage measurement has morphed into an extensive bureaucracy known as “mandatory coordination” for humanitarian aid convoys. Even permitted aid faced severe delays and obstacles, revealing a systematic violation of international obligations to ensure freedom of movement for accessing food, healthcare, and education.
According to Maha al-Hussaini, advocacy director at the Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor, the reality in Gaza is characterized by restrictive practices executed under the guise of security, creating barriers that fundamentally undermine life for the civilian population. Notably, Israeli measures on Gaza’s freedom of movement and the ensuing humanitarian crisis are viewed as violations of both international humanitarian law and moral obligations that come with occupying powers.
The stark consequences of these restrictions are illustrated most poignantly in the realm of medical evacuations. Following the closure of Rafah, patients requiring urgent medical treatment faced convoluted pathways that often resulted in tragic delays, with many succumbing to their conditions before receiving necessary care. Data indicates severe shortages in successful evacuations, leaving thousands of individuals in Gaza waiting for urgent medical treatments, with more than 18,500 reported to have dire needs.
Beyond health, the restrictions imposed by Israel have fragmented the social fabric in Gaza, impacting education, family reunification, and employment opportunities. Al-Hussaini notes that these measures, which were already punitive prior to the current conflict, are now aimed at further destabilizing Gaza and keeping its population in a perpetual state of crisis.
As the situation continues, it is imperative to address these urgent humanitarian concerns, recognizing that the momentum towards a just resolution can only be established by alleviating such crippling restrictions on fundamental human rights.
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