14 july 2014
Egypt opened the Rafah crossing Monday to allow pilgrims to leave Gaza and travel to Saudi Arabia for the Umrah pilgrimage.
Over 490 Gazans left early Monday and 152 pilgrims returned to Gaza from Saudi Arabia.
Four seriously injured Palestinians entered Egypt for treatment.
Egypt has largely kept the Rafah crossing, the only border through which Palestinians can exit Gaza, closed during Israel's assault on the territory.
Over 490 Gazans left early Monday and 152 pilgrims returned to Gaza from Saudi Arabia.
Four seriously injured Palestinians entered Egypt for treatment.
Egypt has largely kept the Rafah crossing, the only border through which Palestinians can exit Gaza, closed during Israel's assault on the territory.
9 july 2014
The interior ministry spokesman in Gaza, Iyad al-Bazam, has urged the Egyptian authorities to open the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt immediately. Bazam, in a statement on his Facebook page at dawn Wednesday, said that the Egyptian authorities have been closing the Rafah border terminal for 174 days since the start of 2014.
He said that the crossing should be opened immediately in light of the ongoing Israeli “savage aggression” on the besieged enclave.
The spokesman said that hundreds of Palestinians were wounded and were in need of urgent treatment, adding that medicines were running out of stock in Gaza.
The crossing has been mostly closed since July 2013.
He said that the crossing should be opened immediately in light of the ongoing Israeli “savage aggression” on the besieged enclave.
The spokesman said that hundreds of Palestinians were wounded and were in need of urgent treatment, adding that medicines were running out of stock in Gaza.
The crossing has been mostly closed since July 2013.
7 july 2014
Israel has reduced the amount of goods allowed to be shipped into the Gaza Strip for two days in a row, a Palestinian official said Monday.
Raed Fattouh, an official responsible for the entry of goods into Gaza, told Ma'an that Israel only allowed 150 truckloads of goods into the Strip via Kerem Shalom crossing on Sunday and Monday, down from the usual 350-450.
Only a limited quantity of diesel fuel for Gaza's sole power plant has been allowed, and only a small amount of gasoline, Fattouh added.
Israel has maintained a severe economic blockade on the Gaza Strip's 1.7 million residents since 2006.
The blockade has severely limited the imports and exports of the Gaza Strip and has led to frequent humanitarian crises and hardship for Gazans.
Raed Fattouh, an official responsible for the entry of goods into Gaza, told Ma'an that Israel only allowed 150 truckloads of goods into the Strip via Kerem Shalom crossing on Sunday and Monday, down from the usual 350-450.
Only a limited quantity of diesel fuel for Gaza's sole power plant has been allowed, and only a small amount of gasoline, Fattouh added.
Israel has maintained a severe economic blockade on the Gaza Strip's 1.7 million residents since 2006.
The blockade has severely limited the imports and exports of the Gaza Strip and has led to frequent humanitarian crises and hardship for Gazans.
6 july 2014
Israel decided on Sunday to reduce the fishing zone open for Gaza fishermen from 6 nautical miles to 3, and they warned that boats which exceed that limit will be fired upon.
The reduction was confirmed by sources in the Palestinian liaison department.
Nevertheless, the union of Gaza fishermen says it will stick to the former fishing zone.
The union’s speaker Nizar Ayyash told Ma'an that fishermen would “find out the certainty of the news if they will be fired at.”
He highlighted that some fishermen have already entered the 6-mile zone.
The reduction was confirmed by sources in the Palestinian liaison department.
Nevertheless, the union of Gaza fishermen says it will stick to the former fishing zone.
The union’s speaker Nizar Ayyash told Ma'an that fishermen would “find out the certainty of the news if they will be fired at.”
He highlighted that some fishermen have already entered the 6-mile zone.
Israeli authorities have decided to allow residents of Hebron district to enter Israel if they have permits, ending a ban on which started with the abduction of three Israeli teenagers three weeks earlier.
Director general of the Palestinian liaison department Imad al-Natsha told Ma’an that starting Sunday, all residents of Hebron who have permits to travel into Israel for work or other purposes will be allowed.
He highlighted that Palestinian minister of civil affairs Hussein al-Sheikh had urged Israel to end the ban on Hebron residents.
Director general of the Palestinian liaison department Imad al-Natsha told Ma’an that starting Sunday, all residents of Hebron who have permits to travel into Israel for work or other purposes will be allowed.
He highlighted that Palestinian minister of civil affairs Hussein al-Sheikh had urged Israel to end the ban on Hebron residents.
4 july 2014
The International Monetary Fund on Thursday said the economy in the West Bank and Gaza is weakening and urged Israel to lift restrictions on the Palestinians.
After briefing the international donor community and the Palestinian Authority, IMF mission chief Christoph Duenwald said in a statement that the authority is "doing a commendable job" managing the economy in difficult circumstances.
He said the global donor community needed to step up to help fill a "sizable" financing gap this year for the authority.
"Against the background of rising political uncertainty, the economy of the West Bank and Gaza is weakening," he said.
"Unemployment, particularly youth unemployment, currently at 43 percent, continues to rise from already high levels," he added.
"Continued donor support is vital at this time, as is a comprehensive easing of Israeli restrictions to underpin the Palestinian reform efforts."
According to a February forecast, the IMF saw the economy in the West Bank and Gaza growing 2.5 percent this year, up from 1.5 percent in 2013.
After briefing the international donor community and the Palestinian Authority, IMF mission chief Christoph Duenwald said in a statement that the authority is "doing a commendable job" managing the economy in difficult circumstances.
He said the global donor community needed to step up to help fill a "sizable" financing gap this year for the authority.
"Against the background of rising political uncertainty, the economy of the West Bank and Gaza is weakening," he said.
"Unemployment, particularly youth unemployment, currently at 43 percent, continues to rise from already high levels," he added.
"Continued donor support is vital at this time, as is a comprehensive easing of Israeli restrictions to underpin the Palestinian reform efforts."
According to a February forecast, the IMF saw the economy in the West Bank and Gaza growing 2.5 percent this year, up from 1.5 percent in 2013.
3 july 2014
Israeli forces on Thursday denied Palestinian minister of agriculture Shawqi al-Ayasa entry to the northern Jordan Valley where he was scheduled to meet with farmers in the village of Furush Beit Dajan.
Head of the local council of Beit Dajan Nasr Abu Jeish told Ma’an that Israeli soldiers stationed at Hamra checkpoint denied al-Ayasa entry through the checkpoint.
The soldiers claimed there was no coordination for the visit between the Palestinian and Israeli liaison departments. The minister was held for about 45 minutes at the checkpoint before the soldiers closed it and asked al-Ayasa to go back.
Abu Jeish added that the minister was scheduled to attend a meeting with farmers from the Jordan Valley to listen to their problems especially water shortage. The meeting was organized by the local council of Beit Dajan and the Nablus governorate.
The meeting was eventually held in al-Badhan village in northeast Nablus where both the minister and farmers were able to go without passing through Israeli checkpoints.
Head of the local council of Beit Dajan Nasr Abu Jeish told Ma’an that Israeli soldiers stationed at Hamra checkpoint denied al-Ayasa entry through the checkpoint.
The soldiers claimed there was no coordination for the visit between the Palestinian and Israeli liaison departments. The minister was held for about 45 minutes at the checkpoint before the soldiers closed it and asked al-Ayasa to go back.
Abu Jeish added that the minister was scheduled to attend a meeting with farmers from the Jordan Valley to listen to their problems especially water shortage. The meeting was organized by the local council of Beit Dajan and the Nablus governorate.
The meeting was eventually held in al-Badhan village in northeast Nablus where both the minister and farmers were able to go without passing through Israeli checkpoints.
The Palestinian Health Ministry on Wednesday said most of Gaza ambulances have gone out of service as fuel reserves have almost hit zero. Dr. Atef Ramlawi, head of the emergency unit in the ministry, warned, in a press release, that the current situation bodes ill for Gaza ambulances as they might run out of 70% of their overall fuel supplies.
He added: “We’ve been appealing to officials in the Finance and Health Ministries to step in. But to no avail so far.”
No single fuel liter has been bumped into the suspended Gaza ambulances since early July. The ambulances have only been operating in emergency cases.
The Palestinian official warned of the possible inability of meeting the emergency services needed in case of further Israeli raids on the Gaza Strip.
He called on all concerned parties and officials in the unity government to step in with no further delay so as to alleviate Gaza’s fuel crisis and cope with such an acute shortage in fuel quantities needed to recuperate Gaza’s ambulances.
Observers detected reluctance on the part of health Minister Fathi Awad, located in Ramallah, to deal with the crisis. He has rarely been in touch with the ministry representatives in Gaza.
He added: “We’ve been appealing to officials in the Finance and Health Ministries to step in. But to no avail so far.”
No single fuel liter has been bumped into the suspended Gaza ambulances since early July. The ambulances have only been operating in emergency cases.
The Palestinian official warned of the possible inability of meeting the emergency services needed in case of further Israeli raids on the Gaza Strip.
He called on all concerned parties and officials in the unity government to step in with no further delay so as to alleviate Gaza’s fuel crisis and cope with such an acute shortage in fuel quantities needed to recuperate Gaza’s ambulances.
Observers detected reluctance on the part of health Minister Fathi Awad, located in Ramallah, to deal with the crisis. He has rarely been in touch with the ministry representatives in Gaza.
2 july 2014
Gaza's Energy and Natural Resources Authority has again warned of a power cut, should imported fuel quantities remain in limited supply.
In a recent press statement, Al Ray reports, the Authority said that “the Israeli occupation authorities limited the quantities of fuel shipped via Karm Abu Salem crossing to the Strip, which may result in the power plant not operating.”
The statement pointed to the fact that the lack of fuel is ongoing for the plant, and appeals to all responsible parties in taking immediate measures to find a fundamental solution for the crisis, so that electricity distribution schedules already in effect may continue.
On June 26, a shipment of 250,000 liters of synthetic diesel (one day's supply) was allowed entry into Gaza in order to fuel its sole power plant, a day after the authority warned the plant would shut down.
Even under the current schedule, Gazans receive electricity sporadically for totals amounting to 8 hours daily.
Qatari fuel, donated in March, was expected to run the plant for three months, but this deadline has since expired.
Gaza has been under a severe economic blockade imposed by Israel since 2006, leading to frequent humanitarian crises. With Egyptian backing, Israel tightened the blockade in 2007, following a political victory by Hamas.
In a recent press statement, Al Ray reports, the Authority said that “the Israeli occupation authorities limited the quantities of fuel shipped via Karm Abu Salem crossing to the Strip, which may result in the power plant not operating.”
The statement pointed to the fact that the lack of fuel is ongoing for the plant, and appeals to all responsible parties in taking immediate measures to find a fundamental solution for the crisis, so that electricity distribution schedules already in effect may continue.
On June 26, a shipment of 250,000 liters of synthetic diesel (one day's supply) was allowed entry into Gaza in order to fuel its sole power plant, a day after the authority warned the plant would shut down.
Even under the current schedule, Gazans receive electricity sporadically for totals amounting to 8 hours daily.
Qatari fuel, donated in March, was expected to run the plant for three months, but this deadline has since expired.
Gaza has been under a severe economic blockade imposed by Israel since 2006, leading to frequent humanitarian crises. With Egyptian backing, Israel tightened the blockade in 2007, following a political victory by Hamas.
