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Special Report
The Humanitarian State of Affairs in
the Gaza Strip
July 2010

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Introduction

1. As a result of Hamas’ take-over of the Gaza Strip, a radical Islamic

entity, which denies the State of Israel’s 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.

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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.

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The Gaza open-air market, November 2009

Photographs from the Palestine Alyoum news site

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.

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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.

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,

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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.

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.

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 and
business activity.

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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 Gaza’s
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
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.
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.

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• 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.

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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 Israel’s 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 Gaza
Strip. 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

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