Independent Commission for Human Rights expresses its grave concern over the death of two citizens while working in a tunnel. On October, 25, 2010, Mousa Muhammad Sulaiman, 20 and Muhammad Hamdan Zaarab, 18 died of an electric shock in a tunnel based in Rafah city. ICHR monitored (25) death cases during 2010, compared to (65) deaths and (622) injuries in 2009, (59) deaths and (180) injuries in 2008, and (1) death case and (16) injuries in 2007.

ICHR views the continuation of such a situation as a violation of human rights and physical safety and an express contravention of article (25) of the Palestinian basic law that stresses the right to work in consistence with the standards of safety and security. Despite ongoing human rights organizations’ call on the competent authorities to take measures and decisions to put an end to such a situation, it has continued and become a phenomenon.

In the same context, ICHR received a number of complaints from the citizens who work in the tunnels. They claim that members of the tunnels committee of the high borders commission seize, insult and torture them. They also claim that they proscribe and oblige them to pay amounts of money in contravention of law provisions.

In light of such a situation, ICHR demands that:

1. The Palestinian National Authority place pressure on the international community to lift the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip to guarantee entry of basic materials and goods. This is a legal obligation the international community, especially, the signatories to human rights conventions and law, should bound themselves to.
2. Formal authorities in the Gaza Strip should fulfill their responsibilities for monitoring and following up tunnels-related issues. They also should take the measures necessary for keeping the safety of tunnels’ workers, meeting their needs, treating the victims of tunnels incidents, holding those who run these tunnels legally responsible for such incidents and investigating into the violations related to work in these tunnels.