Military carries on firing at Palestinian farmers by Israel-Gaza border

After the deadly Operation Pillar of Defense (November 2012) media reports stated that, as part of the ceasefire agreement, Israel and Hamas had reached an understanding that Israel would allow Palestinians greater access to the farmland near the Israel-Gaza fence. These areas constitute roughly a third of all farmland in the Gaza Strip. On 8 February 2013 IDF magazine BaMahane reported that “Palestinian residents of Gaza have been granted permission to enter the security perimeter area up to 100 meters from the fence.”

Uncultivated fields near the Gaza perimeter fence (Photo: B'Tselem)

Uncultivated fields near the Gaza perimeter fence (Photo: B’Tselem)

Until that time, Israel had limited Palestinian access to areas near the border. As of 2010, the military had distributed leaflets several times throughout the Gaza Strip warning residents against coming within 300 meters of the fence. The leaflets emphasized that “anyone coming near [the fence] is putting himself in danger: all measures will be taken against anyone entering that range, including firing.” However, the prohibited areas along the fence were not marked, so persons entering the forbidden range were not always aware of the attendant risk. Prior to Operation Pillar of Defense, B’Tselem and other organizations documented dozens of cases in which the military shot persons who were more than 300 meters away from the fence – sometimes as far as a kilometer and a half away. According to OCHA, in reality, Palestinians were denied access to 17 percent of the total land mass of the Gaza Strip, which includes approximately 35 percent of its agricultural land.

According to B’Tselem’s data, since the end of the operation, the military has shot and killed four Palestinians in areas close to the fence, one of whom was riding a motorcycle some 300 meters away from the fence. According to OCHA figures, up to October 21, 2013, 135 Palestinians were injured by live fire near the fence, including 54 in the week after the operation ended.

As stated above, the agricultural lands close to the fence constitute roughly a third of all farmland in the Gaza Strip. The military’s conduct prevents farmers from working most of this land, due to the unclear rules and the threat of physical danger. Other residents who make a living off these areas and are also denied access include various occupations such as gravel and debris collectors. In this way, Israel unjustifiably harms the livelihood of tens of thousands of people.

B’Tselem reiterates that “the military must enable farmers to work their land and that, if a security zone is necessary, it must lie within Israeli territory. As long as that is not the case, Israeli must make spell out the precise boundaries of the restricted areas in the Gaza Strip. It must also refrain altogether from using live fire as a means for deterring civilians from entering those areas, using non-lethal methods instead. It is Israel’s right and duty to protect its border, but it must do so within the boundaries of the law and avoid harming persons who are not a security threat.”

Related:

http://www.btselem.org/gaza_strip/20131029_shooting_at_farmers_near_gaza_fence