Rights groups call on Israel to open Gaza crossings

Eight Israeli human rights organizations called on outgoing Defense Minister Amir Peretz and coordinator of government activities in the territories, Maj.-Gen, Yosef Mishlav Sunday to open Gaza's border crossings and allow Palestinians to enter Israel.

The groups that have signed the appeal are Gisha: The Legal Center for Freedom of Movement, the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, B'Tselem, Physicians for Human Rights, Hamoked: Center for the Defense of the Individual, Yesh Din, Rabbis for Human Rights and the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel.

In their letter, the groups wrote that the Israeli government must open the crossings in order to prevent a humanitarian disaster from developing in Gaza. "Hundreds of refugees are locked between the closed Erez crossing and a group of Hamas members who are preventing them from returning to Gaza.

"Injured and sick people are locked up inside Gaza. Basic provisions are running out, and the shortage in vital medical equipment is worsening. The State of Israel cannot stand idly by while the basic human rights of Gaza's residents are being violated, and the lives of some of them are threatened."

The organizations stressed the urgency of the appeal to open the crossings for passage of people and goods in and out of the Strip.

"Following the past week's events, the State of Israel decided to close off all the land passages between Gaza and the outer world. The Karni crossing, the lifeline through which commodities enter Gaza from Israel, has been closed for six days," the groups stated, adding that Israel also prevents leaving Gaza through the sea or by air.

Referring to the decision to stop fuel supply to the Strip, they said, "Such an act would make it difficult to provide essential services to the population… and pose a real threat of shutting down the electronic equipment in operation rooms."