Gaza _ Palestine News Network
The president of the People´s Committee against the siege, Jamal al-Khudari, has said that the Israeli authorities ´ continued closure of the only commercial crossing in the Gaza Strip, known as "Karam Abu Salem", has accelerated the collapse of the humanitarian situation of residents of the besieged sector for the past 12 years.
For the 33rd consecutive day, the Israeli occupation authorities continue to close the "Karam Abu Salem" Crossing and prevent the entry of raw materials, building materials and hundreds of essential humanitarian goods into the strip.
"The blockade is an Israeli collective punishment that targets more than two million Palestinians living in Gaza, which is contrary to all international laws and norms," said Khodari in a press release Sunday.
"Gaza is collapsing economically, and the situation in all the vital and humanitarian sectors cannot be described as difficult under this dangerous siege, which strikes all the foundations and determinants of the Palestinian economy," he said.
Palestinian citizens in the Gaza Strip were deprived of basic services, such as electricity, water, treatment and freedom of movement, as well as the closure of some 90 per cent of Gaza´s factories, owing to the impossibility of completing their work under the prohibition of occupation and the introduction of raw materials for industry into an Israeli plan systematized to "Choke Gaza", as he said.
According to the Palestinian official, the unemployment rate among the youth in the sector was above 60 per cent, indicating that it was the highest globally, while the poverty rate exceeded the 80 per cent barrier.
The international community must urgently intervene to save the collapsed situation in Gaza, pressure the occupation to put an end to the embargo urgently, open all commercial crossings and allow free movement of people and goods without prohibited lists, he said.
He called for the inauguration of a sea port linking Gaza to the world, in addition to the safe times between Gaza and the West Bank, saying "These are the determinants of lifting the siege on Gaza."
Recently, the occupation authorities have decided to impose sanctions on the Gaza Strip, including the legalization of the introduction of goods, the prohibition of exports and the reduction of fishing space.
"Karam Abu Salem" is the only commercial crossing that connects the Gaza Strip to the outside world, after the occupation has sealed off five similar crossings on the border, and the crossing has been kept partially open as the Tel Aviv siege on the Gaza Strip has continued for 12 years.
