The Independent Commission for Human Rights (ICHR) denounces the collective punishment and severe siege imposed on the civilian population of the Gaza Strip. Since November 1st 2008, the Israeli occupying authorities have intensified the blockade, converting the Gaza Strip into an impenetrable prison. Israeli forces have sealed off all crossing points as well as prevented transportation of essential supplies such as fuel, electricity, gas, food, medicine, and medical equipment. Consequences of the Israeli collective punishment have adversely impacted one and a half million Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip, leading to an unprecedented humanitarian catastrophe.

According to information reported to ICHR, the Ash Shifa' Hospital accommodates 30 newborn infants at the Premature Babies Section (23 children with kidney failure in the Dialysis Section; 58 suffering from cancer; and 43 others with heart disease) who are all in imminent danger if relevant medical devices are disrupted by any electricity cut-off. Moreover, Gaza’s citizens are subject to grave health risks due to environmental hazards. These include contaminated potable water, following a shortage of chlorine and untreated wastewater due to lack of necessary fuel to operate electric generators. In addition, on November 23rd 2008, 54 bakeries (approximately 75% of all the bakeries in the Gaza Strip) suspended their services after wheat and fuel supplies ran out.

ICHR deems that the Israeli siege and intensified collective punishment is a flagrant violation of International Humanitarian Law, in particular, the Fourth Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, which ensures that civilian persons have the right to life and personal safety, as well as an adequate standard of living.

Condemning the collective punishment imposed on the Gazan population, ICHR calls on all High Contracting Parties to convene and meet their obligations prescribed under the Fourth Geneva Convention, the rules of which well apply to the Occupied Palestinian Territory. ICHR also demands that the international community take urgent action to compel the Israeli occupying power to terminate the siege.

Furthermore, ICHR calls on all international human rights and legal organisations to pressure their respective governments to adopt positions that force Israel to end the blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip, as well as to provide much needed food and medical supplies in order to sustain the lives of Gaza’s civilian population.