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Isolation remains policy. Incursions and air attacks happen regularly. Farmers are shot working their fields. Fishermen are terrorized at sea. Young children are used for target practice.
On June 10, the Gisha Legal Center for Freedom of Movement issued a status report.
Despite modestly improved foreign access, Gaza remains isolated. Political and economic rights are denied.
Israel disingenuously renounced "economic warfare." Strict implementation remains in practice. Hamas and other resistance groups are targeted. According to Gisha:
Isolation sustains "the economic anomaly created by the closure, in which productive sectors are paralyzed while the local government's budget and its narrow tier of beneficiaries enjoy staggering growth."
"Despite numerous official statements that Israel is committed to economic development in Gaza and despite the relative improvement in Gaza's economy since 2009, sustainable growth is impossible in these circumstances."
Isolation never was for security. Israeli officials admitted it years ago. Nothing since changed.
As a result, Gazans can reach Egypt through Rafah crossing. Sea and airspace remain blocked. So is accessing the West Bank and East Jerusalem. Hard to prove "exceptional" humanitarian cases are allowed. Select merchants get permission. All others are denied.
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