Attacks in the “bufferzone” and their consequences

PCHR

Tuesday, 17 July 2012 00:00

Fact Sheet June 2012 Following disengagement from the Gaza Strip in September 2005, Israel has unilaterally and illegally established a so-called “buffer zone”, an area prohibited to Palestinians along the land and sea borders of the Gaza Strip. The precise area designated by Israel as a “buffer zone” is unknown and Israeli policy is typically enforced with live fire. The establishment of the ‘buffer zone’ is illegal under both Israeli and international law.   Preventing Palestinians from access to their land, and fishing areas, violates numerous provisions of international human rights law, including the right to work, the right to the highest attainable standard of living, and the right to the highest attainable standard of health. Enforcing the “buffer zone” by means of live fire often results in, inter alia, the war crimes of direct targeting of civilians and indiscriminate attacks.                                                                                                                                  Dimensions On land: inside Palestinian territory: · Second Intifada (2000): 150 metres · According to Israel (2010) :  300 metres · In reality: Minimum: 300 metres to approximately 2 kilometres · Approximately 17% of the total territory of the Gaza Strip At sea, area off coast for Palestinian fishing: · Oslo Accords (1994): 20 nautical miles (NM) · Bertini Commitment (2002): 12 NM · October 2006: 6 NM · End of 2007 : 3 NM · 1.5 NM in the north along the maritime boundary with Israel · 1 NM in the south along the maritime boundary with Egypt Impact On Land: · Approximately 27,000 dunums, 35% of the Gaza Strip's agricultural land can only be accessed under high personal risk, as Israeli attacks may result in injury or death of civilians. · 95% of the restricted area is arable land · After the evacuation of settlements (2005) and Operation Cast Lead (2008-2009) the majority of Palestinians families abandoned their land and houses. At Sea: · Palestinians are totally prevented from accessing 85% of the maritime areas in reference to 1994 Gaza Jericho Agreement. · Approximately 3,700 fishermen expose themselves to high risk every day at sea. · Approximately 8,200 persons are working in fishing industry. · Approximately 65,000 persons, including individuals in the fishing industry and their dependents are affected by the “buffer zone” restrictions at sea. · The area near the coast is markedly over-fished. Attacks June 2012 Attacks Total Within Land “buffer zone” Within Maritime “buffer zone” Shelling 10 10 0 Shooting 34 11 23 Incursions 28 5 23 Land leveling 4 4 0 Total of incident 76 30 46 Consequences of attacks a. Deaths and Injuries June 2012 CONSEQUENCES Total Within Land “buffer zone” Within Maritime “buffer zone” Deaths of Persons 9 9 0 Minors 0 0 0 Women 0 0 0 Injuries of Persons 9 9 0 Minors 0 0 0 Women 0 0 0 b. Property related violations June 2012 CONSEQUENCES Total Within Land “buffer zone” Within Maritime “buffer zone” Property damaged 22 19 3 Property confiscated 7 0 7 Dunums razed 73 73 0 c. Detention June 2012 CONSEQUENCES  Total Within Land “buffer zone” Within Maritime “buffer zone” Total persons detained 13 0 13 Minors detained 1 0 1 Women detained 0 0 0