8/9/2019 06987-sc-

1/9

NON-CLASSIFIED

-1-

Special Report

The Humanitarian State of Affairs inthe Gaza Strip

July 2010

8318

8/9/2019 06987-sc-

2/9

NON-CLASSIFIED

-2-

Introduction

1. As a result of Hamas take-over of the Gaza Strip, a radical Islamicentity, which denies the State of Israels right to exist, is

continuously constructing its military strength so as to continue

firing on civilian settlements in Israel, and is dependent on and

supported by Iran, was created there. Since the beginning of 2010,

some 110 rockets and mortar bombs have been fired at Israel from

the Gaza Strip.

2. Hamas continues unabatedly to take advantage of every method

by sea, by land, by fishing boats and a network of tunnels to

import military materiel: rockets, firepower, explosives and

infrastructure materials for the production of weaponry.

3. IDF activities in the Gaza Strip region, including the naval blockade

and the border crossing restrictions, are a function of having to

maintain the security of the citizens of Israel in face of the

terrorist threat stemming from the Gaza Strip and to prevent the

smuggling of arms.

4. In light of the renewed assessment of the Israeli government, it

was decided on June 20, 2010, to update the system for the

transfer of goods to the Gaza Strip in an effort in assist the

civilian population of Gaza. The new apparatus is a result of two

basic objectives: maintaining the security needs of the State of Israel

while at the same time minimizing the effect on the local Palestinian

population. The new procedure allows for an increase in the

amount and variety of products to be brought in, while

preserving the objective of preventing the expansion and arming

of Hamas military.

8318

8/9/2019 06987-sc-

3/9

NON-CLASSIFIED

-3-

5. Immediately upon the announcement of the new policy regarding the

transfer of goods into the Gaza Strip, Israel, together with the

international community, began implementing changes in order to

expand the scope of transfers. At the Kerem Shalom crossing,

activity has increased to allow the crossing of 150 trucks per day,

instead of 90. By the end of July, it is expected that 250 trucks will

be crossing the border on a daily basis. Similar progress has been

made at Karni crossing, where the number of trucks crossing into

the Gaza Strip has gone from 80 per day to 120 per day. The

crossings are monitored daily in order to measure the necessity of

adjusting the amount of goods transferred upwards.

6. This report presents data indicating that the state of affairs in the

Gaza Strip is far from being a humanitarian crisis as it is being

falsely portrayed.

Food and Clothing

7. Most foodstuffs are approved for entry into the Gaza Strip, both via

the private sector and via international organizations.

8. In 2009, 30,920 trucks, carrying 800,000 tons of supplies, were

allowed into the Gaza Strip, carrying, among other things: fruits

and vegetables, meat, fish and chicken, dairy products, sugar, rice

and legumes, flour and yeast, oil, etc. Similarly, 10,871 heads of

cattle were brought in, primarily in honor of Ramadan and Eid al

Adha.

9. In the first half of 2010, some 289,793 tons of supplies were

brought in via some 10,920 trucks: 60,000 tons of wheat, 4,330

tons of rice, 12,000 tons of beef, chicken and fish, some 17,000 tons

of sugar, 1,300 tons of powdered milk and baby formula.

8318

8/9/2019 06987-sc-

4/9

The Gaza open-air market, November 2009Photographs from the Palestine Alyoum news site

NON-CLASSIFIED

-4-

Medical Equipment

10. In 2009, 572 trucks carrying some 5,000 tons of medical equipment

entered the Gaza Strip.

11. In the first half of 2010, more than 1,600 tons of medicine and

medical equipment carried by some 232 trucks entered the Gaza

Strip.

12. In 2009, two elevators were delivered to hospitals in the Gaza Strip;

a CT imaging scanner and mammography equipment were delivered

to the Red Cross hospital there.

13. In the first quarter of 2010, 4 trucks with special equipment for a

project at Al Quds Hospital in the Gaza Strip were allowed entry;

some 13 additional trucks are scheduled to enter.

14. In light of concern about a possible outbreak of the H1N1 virus, 3

Israeli hospitals were instructed to treat flu victims from the Gaza

Strip. In addition, 44,500 doses of the vaccine were delivered to the

Gaza Strip.

8318

8/9/2019 06987-sc-

5/9

During 2009, 10,544 Gaza residents, accompanied by over

12,000 friends and relatives, were brought into Israel for

medical treatment. Furthermore, during the same year, there

were 382 emergency evacuations for medical reasons from the

Gaza Strip to Israel.

NON-CLASSIFIED

-5-

Critical Civilian Infrastructure Equipment

15. In 2009, Israel transferred 41 trucks of equipment into the Gaza Strip

for routine maintenance of electricity there, and continues to

provide the Gaza Strip with approximately 60% of its electricity.

16. In 2009, more than 105 million liters of fuel were delivered to the

power station in Gaza, and more than 3.2 million liters of diesel were

supplied for UNRWA activities.

17. In the first half of 2010, over 30 million liters of fuel were delivered

to the power station in Gaza, and some 19,500 tons of cooking gas.

18. In 2009, 127 trucks containing over 3,000 tons of hypochloride for

water purification entered the Gaza Strip. 48 trucks with equipment

to improve waste removal resulted in a significant reduction of the

waste level at the Beit Lahiya installation.

19. As part of winter preparations, 3,607 tons of glass were delivered to

the Gaza Strip. Based on U.N. reports, windows and windowpanes

were repaired in all medical and educational institutions.

20. In the first half of 2010, the following deliveries were made to the

Gaza Strip:

250 trucks carrying equipment for UNRWA summer camps,including: equipment and materials for creative workshops,

8318

8/9/2019 06987-sc-

6/9

Based on U.N. date, some 78% of homes that were lightly damaged

during Operation Cast Lead had been repaired as of January 30,

2010.

NON-CLASSIFIED

-6-

swimming pools, inflatable equipment, ice cream machine,

musical instruments, items of clothing, sports equipment, and

more.

Equipment to complete the upgrade of the sewage plant by

UNRWA was delivered.

200 empty cargo containers were delivered to UNRWA for the

creation of classrooms and bathrooms.

21. Certain types of materials, such as cement and iron, are treated

more strictly and their import is more limited. These materials

openly serve Hamas in its attempts to rearm its army, to

construct bunkers and rocket launching pads, and to

manufacture mortar bombs and rockets.

22. Nonetheless, the transfer of these materials is also allowed, under

supervision, after it has been ascertained beyond a doubt that they

will serve to develop civilian rather than military infrastructures. In

the first half of 2010, some 30 tons of iron and some 785 tons of

cement were brought into the Gaza Strip.

Movement of Residents Out of and Into the Gaza Strip

23. Despite the inherent risk, Israel allows the movement of residents

and visitors into the Gaza Strip and out of it, both to the West Bank

and abroad, and for medical, religious and welfare purposes.

Similarly, Israel allows crossings for diplomatic, commercial andbusiness activity.

8318

8/9/2019 06987-sc-

7/9

During the first half of 2010, some 12 million flowers and 54 tons of

strawberries were allowed out of the Gaza Strip to be exported.

NON-CLASSIFIED

-7-

24. Below as some examples from 2009:

Delegations from abroad: 21,200 people active in

international organizations were allowed to enter the Gaza Strip;

more than 400 diplomatic missions entered; 2,200 Palestinians

employed by international organizations left the Gaza Strip in

2009.

Studies, vacations and visits to holy site:147 student visas

were issued for studies in locations around the world; before

Christmas, 400 visas were issued to Christians living in the Gaza

Strip to visit Bethlehem, and another 100 visas were issued for

destinations outside of Israel.

257 crossing visas were issued to members of Gazas

business community in order to allow commercial life.

Soccer players from the Palestinian championship team were

allowed to leave in order to train and play friendship games in the

West Bank and abroad.

Economic and Commercial Activity

25. Israel is taking steps that will allow commerce, an economy and a

banking system to exist in the Gaza Strip:

In 2009, NIS 1.1 billion were moved into the Gaza Strip for the

sake of routine activity of international organizations and to cover

operating costs and salaries of Palestinian Authority employees.

40 million damaged bills were replaced by new ones; on the basis

of a request from the Palestinian Monetary Fund, NIS 282.5

million were transferred from Gaza banks to the Bank of Israel.

8318

8/9/2019 06987-sc-

8/9

NON-CLASSIFIED

-8-

In February 2010, an agreement in principle was made with the PA

to pay National Insurance Institute and pension payments for

Palestinian living in Gaza who in the past had worked in Israel.

These sums are to be transferred to Palestinian banks in the West

Bank and the PA will see to it that they are transferred directly to

the Palestinians.

In June 2010, $13.5 million were transferred to UNRWA to pay for

UNRWA employee salaries in the Gaza Strip.

Electrical Appliances, Cosmetics and Toys

26. Israel is taking steps to improve the quality of life in the Gaza Strip

and is allowing some luxury goods to cross. During June 2010 the

following entered the Gaza Strip:

64 trucks carrying household goods.

70 trucks carrying kitchen equipment and supplies.

32 trucks carrying cosmetics.

37 trucks carrying toys for Gaza Strip children.

117 trucks carrying school equipment and supplies.

8318

8/9/2019 06987-sc-

9/9

NON-CLASSIFIED

-9-

Conclusion

27. The State of Israel is taking steps to maintain the security of the

nation and its people. At the same time, Israel has no interest

whatsoever in harming the residents of the Gaza Strip and is

allowing the various aid organizations to maintain as normal a fabric

of life as possible.

28. In its efforts to smuggle military materiel, to develop its military

strength and enhance its capability to harm the citizens of the State

of Israel, Hamas is harming the residents of the Gaza Strip and

preventing them from rebuilding their lives.

29. Nevertheless, the IDF continues to allow goods, infrastructure

materials and medical equipment and supplies to enter the Gaza

Strip, subject to the limitation imposed by Israels security needs

and in accordance with the new crossings policy.

30. The implementation of the new crossings policy has resulted in

an expansion of the range of goods arriving daily in the GazaStrip. In the future, it will result in the expansion of projects in

Gaza, primarily in the fields of education, health, the water

system and sanitation. All such activity is being done with the full

and close cooperation of the Palestinian Authority and the

international community.

The Gaza open-air market, November 2009

Photographs from the Palestine Alyoum news site

8318