2.3 million Palestinians are collectively punished in Gaza Strip due to the Israeli siege

Occupied Al-Quds, (ST) – The international community is not only turning a blind eye to the Israeli crimes against the Palestinian people,  but it also does not care about the suffering of 2.3 million who are collectivelypunished in a limited and isolated geographical area, especially since
the consequences of the Israeli siege have severely affected all economic and humanitarian sectors.

The Israeli occupation imposed a blockade on Gaza Strip in 2006 and tightened it in June 2007.

Here are some facts about the repurcussions of the lsraeli siege on Gaza:

The humanitarian situation in the Strip is getting worse in the absence of any international pressure on the occupation to end its siege.

The international community does not care about the suffering of “2.3” million Palestinians who are collectively punished in a limited and isolated geographical area.

The consequences of the Israeli occupation blockade have deeply affected all economic and humanitarian sectors.

The blockade has caused long-term damage, and recovery from it requires the occupation to lift the restrictions imposed on all sectors.

An increase in unemployment rate to 47 percent and the impoverishment of more than 61 percent of the people of the Strip.

Closing hundreds of factories as a result of the shortage of raw materials and the ongoing fuel and electricity crises.

53 percent of the people suffer from food insecurity.

A significant deterioration in the health sector, as the shortage in medicines reached 40 percent, in medical consumables 32 percent, and laboratory supplies and blood banks 60 percent.

Preventing the entry of medical devices, particularly diagnostic radiology devices, and preventing the entry of spare parts necessary for the maintenance of broken medical devices.

• The fishing sector has been severely damaged as a result of the daily Israeli attacks on fishermen, and the prevention of marketing fish in the Gaza Strip in the West Bank.
• The losses of the agricultural sector as a result of the Israeli blockade and attacks from 2006 to 2022 amounted to about $1.3 billion.
• International conventions prohibit the practice of collective punishment, and oblige the occupying power to respect the humanitarian needs of the peoples under occupation.
• The United Nations is required to assume its responsibilities, pressure the occupation to end its siege and stop all forms of collective punishment against more than 2 million Palestinians in the Strip.

Raghda Sawas/ Amal Farhat