Israel releases papers detailing formula of Gaza blockade
Since Hamas took control of Gaza, officials have employed mathematical formulas to monitor goods from aid groups entering the Strip to ensure amount was in line with what Israel permitted.
By Amira HassIn the three years since Hamas took control of Gaza, Israeli officials have employed mathematical formulas to monitor foodstuffs and other basic goods entering the Strip to ensure that the amount of supplies entering was neither less nor more than the amount Israel permitted, according to documents released last week.
The documents - released Thursday in response to a Freedom of Information Act petition by the non-profit group Gisha - were drafted while Amos Gilad served as interim coordinator of government activities in the territories, heading the body that checked the goods.
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Food aid shipment to Gaza |
| Photo by: AP |
The formulas used coefficients and a formulation for "breathing space," a term used by COGAT authorities to refer to the number of days remaining until a certain supply runs out in Gaza, to determine allowed quantities.
In September 2007, the Israeli government ordered a tightening of the blockade on Gaza, a closure first put in place in 1991. COGAT, in conjunction with other authorities, drafted "Rules for permitting the entry of goods" and "Regulation, supervision and evaluation of supply inventories in Gaza."
Both documents were classified as drafts, but in effect served as instructions for Israeli authorities and were considered valid until a government-implemented policy change following the May raid of a Gaza-bound flotilla that left nine people dead.
Officials from COGAT, a Defense Ministry unit that coordinates activity between the government, military, international groups and the Palestinian Authority, told Haaretz that it had actually been responsible for releasing the documents, given that in the wake of the government decision the directives for keeping the files classified were no longer in force.
A high-ranking COGAT officer told Haaretz that "Regulation, supervision and evaluation of supply of inventories in Gaza" is a method of quickly identifying a shortage of any basic item in Gaza, and that despite the mathematical equations contained in the document, he had never intentionally limited the amount of goods allowed to enter, but on the contrary, verified whether inventories of certain basic supplies in Gaza were full.
The COGAT spokesman said that the regulations were formulated "based on well-known basic foodstuffs, in consultation with the Israeli Health Ministry and in consideration of family consumption habits in Gaza, as published by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics in 2006."
The document contained "warning lines," which were defined as "the days of [remaining] inventory beyond which the relevant official must pay attention to the deviation from reasonable norms and examine the correctness of the model."
There were two types of warning lines. The "upper warning line," which identified surpluses, was defined as an inventory exceeding 21 days for products with short shelf lives or 80 days for those with long shelf lives.
The "lower warning line," which identified shortages, was defined as an inventory of less than four days for products with short shelf lives and of less than 20 days for those with long shelf lives.
The senior COGAT official said the upper warning line was never actually used and the lower line was an important tool for identifying and averting impending shortages.
The "rules for permitting the import of goods" was drafted pursuant to a cabinet decision to restrict "the quantity and type of merchandise" entering Gaza. Its stated purpose was to define the "procedure, rules and method under which permission will be granted" for goods to enter Gaza.
These rules, the draft continued, were meant to allow in goods that would "supply the basic humanitarian needs of the Palestinian population." It then listed seven considerations to weigh when determining which goods should be permitted.
Security was one. The others were as follows:
* "The necessity of the product for meeting humanitarian needs (including its implications for public health in both the Strip and Israel )."
* "The product's image (whether it is considered a luxury )."
* "Legal obligations."
* "The impact of the product's use (whether it is used for preservation, reconstruction or development ), with an emphasis on the impact of its entry on the Hamas government's status."
* "The sensitivities of the international community."
* "The existence of alternatives."
These rules explain why, for example, imports of cloth and thread, which were considered "development" products, were barred, thereby destroying Gaza's textile industry.
The document states that many outside parties affected Israel's decisions: The Strip's needs will be determined not only by the relevant government agencies, it read, but by the Palestinian Authority, international agencies, the media and petitions to the courts by nongovernmental organizations, among others.
The third document that COGAT gave Gisha was the official list of products allowed into Gaza prior to May's botched raid on a Gaza-bound flotilla.
Following that raid, the list was significantly expanded. But the senior COGAT official said that even before then, the list of products actually allowed into Gaza was always longer than the written list.
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What the article shows is that, contrary to innumerable previously incorrect statements (ie: lies) not only were the people in Gaza not starving, Israel was monitoring the levels of imports to ensure that this would not be the case. As the article stated, the minimum red level lines of certain goods was never reached and the maximums were generally ignored. Given a security blockade it does take a certain amount of time and manpower to monitor incoming traffic in order to detect and weed out weaponry. If certain items are difficult to scan such as chocolate bars in aluminum based foil (I assume) then maybe they go on the banned list. It makes sense that fruit and vegetables be given a higher priority than sweets and candies. One notes that some of the premier goods smuggled through the tunnels were flat screen TVs, viagra and iPods. First I'd like to see an apology from everyone published an article or an opinion claiming that the Gazans were starving because Israel did not let enough food get through. Then I'd like to see an honest look at how Hamas commandeered and profited from imports. After that happens one can entertain the notion that individual decisions might have been inappropriate or bureaucratic. That much I can concede. But the extreme and automatic demonization is inappropriate.
And if you find people like myself around the world boycotting your officials and throwing rotten eggs and tomatoes and not giving a hoot about your damn rights as Israelis --you all have no one to blame but yourselves for being so being so cri-minally indifferent and underserving today....Dutch
The fact that the policy of closure and restrictions was already in place in 1991, long before there was a Palestinian Authority or a Hamas government, illustrates that it always was Israeli policy to suffocate the Palestinian economy as part of its general strategy to thwart/sabotage the creation/coming into being of an independent Palestinian state.
So in other words, all those lies about the blockade of Gaza being for security reasons were just that, lies. The plan was, as expressed by government ministers, to put Gaza 'on a diet'. The plan was to make Gazans suffer and destroy their economy, but not to actually starve too many to death, because that might be embarrassing for Israel.
- how can they possibly make any kind of accurate assessment on the needs of an economy where they dont even know the population & growth rate of - its all rubbish!
Israel will lift the weapons blockade. Until that happens I have nothing but crocodile tears for you. For now I just take amusement in the hypocrisy I read here. Was the blockade on Cuba illegal? Was the blockade England and other western states committed were illegal? All blockades by nature affect a people, and sadly folks, just because you don't have a taste for it, doesn't make the action illegal. Like it or not, Israel has an obligation to defend it's citizens from terrorist attacks, mostly from the daily rocket attacks.
I didn't realise chocolate was a weapon! As for 'terrorist' attacks, the Paletinians will ALWAYS have the legitime right to struggle against an occupation. End of!
Yes the blockade is illegal because Israel's occupation and continued colonisation of Palestine is illegal. Israel does have the right to defend itself from terrorist attacks but they are not terrorist attacks. They are the attacks of indigenous Palestinians living under a brutal occupation and colonisation desperately trying to free themselves. The terrorism is the State sanctioned terrorism Israel uses to maintain its illegal occupation and colonisation of Palestine.
But, this article is about Gaza and Gazans.
Read the article. It clearly explains that Israel is blockading items Israel clearly knows are not weapons, and could never be used to make weapons. Your willful ignorance in your first sentence underminds everything you say.
Well from a "realpolitik" perspective Avi, the "weapons blockade" as you term it, is an abject failure. 1) It did not prevent weapons from going in - read your own intelligence service's analysis; 2) the tunnel economy actually strengthened Hamas; and 3) it further eroded Israel's security by further radicalizing the population (hence the unprecedented emergence of Salafist groups) and isolating Israel internationally. Then of course there is the legal argument, and despite your inaccurate comparisons, collective punishment (which this article clearly demonstrates) IS illegal.
Israel decides what those in the ghetto can eat, how often and how much, and someone somewhere decides what does or doesn’t constitute a luxury. This vile operation sounds more like feeding time at the zoo. I take it that all Israeli’s understand the bone deep resentment this must be causing in Gaza. Heaping humiliation on humans like this is a recipe for disaster. Don’t believe me? Reverse the situation, how does it feel?! The people of Gaza must be so full of anger and hate towards the jailers and tormenters. I do not know if Israel can ever make amends for this, but I strongly suggest an attempt is made. What do you think? I’m just curious.
This could be the future of the West Bank (enclave with Israeli controlled borders)
See soviet union to unserstand how well gov can control supply(cannot even effectively controloney supply). In a free market supply and demand can balance naturaly (with a bit of time). Israel should stop controling necesities and should focus only on illegal goods such as weapons, just like is accepted in Amy country in the world. No country allows goods into it's territory (be it land or sea) without inspection.
are trying to avoid warcrimes trials. Cerainly trying to ensure they won't be arrested if they holiday anywhere other than the Kinneret.
Wasn't Israel supposed to change its list of allowed goods to a "blacklist" of banned ones, where all the rest could get in freely? We are still waiting for that list. Or was it just another Israeli lie?
It's astonishing how Israel micromanages Gaza's economy. And they still have the nerve to say they are not occupying the Strip anymore!
Bottom Line, Israel is controlling the calories and employment in Gaza in addition to the air, water, fuel, sewage, location and number of schools and health care needs. That all IS government by remote control. Hamas is just an Israeli occupation subcontractor.
Israel's occupation and continued colonisation of Palestine is corroding and debasing Israeli culture... perhaps beyond a point where it can be saved.
An interesting point, I wonder if the Israelis have given any thought to the long term effect of moral bankruptcy. Hmmm..... is there a point beyond which a society/culture cannot be redeemed and an absolute collapse takes place? Fascinating. What do you think? I'm just curious.
Israel's occupation and continued colonisation of Palestine is corroding and debasing Israeli culture... perhaps beyond a point where it can be saved.
An interesting point, I wonder if the Israelis have given any thought to the long term effect of moral bankruptcy. Hmmm..... is there a point beyond which a society/culture cannot be redeemed and an absolute collapse takes place? Fascinating. What do you think? I'm just curious.
State of Palestine is still on the drawing table.
Israel must revise its policy on Gaza. Holding an entire population hostage is not going to help make peace or solve any problem.
Gilad Shalit is a war prisoner... As all the Palestinians who are in Israeli's prisons. Gilad Shalit will be free/exchange when peace will be signed.
Except Gregg from Haifa there is a little matter of numbers and the fact that Shalit is a soldier. Israel holds more than 10,000 Palestinians in gaol, thousands of them children and most without charge. So we have one soldier and 10,000 Palestinian citizens. The soldier was trying to maintain the occupation and colonisation and the civilians were trying to free themselves from it. Apart from the fact that the Palestinians have right on their side and the Israeli soldier no right at all to do what he did, it's a tad disproportionate in terms of numbers don't you think. Or does one Israeli life equal 10,000 Palestinians in your judgement?
Gaza is a territory in armed conflict with the sovereign state of Israel. I can't recall a single such armed conflict in which one side is expected to supply goods to the other, anywhere in the world. Gaza, a Muslim-Arab territory, of course can continue to receive its goods from Egypt, a neighboring Muslim-Arab state. Expecting Israel to do what the Muslim-Arab world refuses to do smells bad, very bad indeed...!!
I think the terminology may be confusing here...Israel does not 'supply' ( which I think some people are reading as 'give' ) Gaza anything . What they do is 'allow passage of' goods which have either been purchased or supplied/donated by other countries and/or organisations
nobody expects or asks the soveriegn state of israel to supply anything, but why do they stop other countries from supplying gaza?
With an expanded UNIFIL presence with Chapter 7 authorization to use all force necessary to maintain border security. Everything Israel does like this helps the Palestinians. Israel is helping their enemies.
If this was your son there, kidnapped under full democratic will of population, wouldn't you think they deserve at least that?
Apart from humane treatment, letters with relatives is all they are required to grant.
facilitate an exchange for the 7,000 Palestinian prisoners held captive by Israel
Gilad Shalit is a war prisoner... As all the Palestinians who are in Israeli's prisons. Gilad Shalit will be free/exchange when peace will be signed.
Gilad Shalit is a war prisoner... As all the Palestinians who are in Israeli's prisons. Gilad Shalit will be free/exchange when peace will be signed.
Shalit is not a hostage, he's a prisonner of war, exactly as Israel holds thousands of Palestinians prisonners of war. What is unacceptable, of course, is that Hamas does not let the Red Cross access him and does not let him comunicate with his family.
There have been thousands of Palestinian civilians arrested by the IDF who are absolutely innocent , but were still kept in prison....under full democratic will of the Israeli population.
I feel for your pain I really do Israeli, but the blockade and the way of it is not as punishment for the capture of Shalit. Nor is it to prevent the launch of the ineffectual Katyushas Qassams et al. This is about humiliation and collective punishment of and imprisoned civil population. Israel isn't doing this because it ought, Israel isn't doing this because it should, Israel is doing this because it can. This is cruelty plain and simple.
He was a trained soldier captured while taking part in an illegal and violent siege. He really should have been judged for that, only, proper court proceedings aren't doable under threat from a whole army. I guess. It is understandably sad for the family, to be embroiled in this mess, but that doesn't make it OK
What does this have to do with Israel's security needs. I thought this was about weapons. Was I just being silly and naive?
For punishing the masses for the sins of a few people. Women and children live in Gaza too, as do full grown men I'm sure who are not militants. How does the restriction of goods actually combat extremism instead of creating a point of suffering and a rallying cry for extremists to recruit others to their cause?
For one thing, prohibiting basic foodstuffs is illegal, regardless of wether you are using "coefficients" and "formulas" to determine which basic foodstuff you are going to prohibit today. But more interesting is this line: "Legal obligations." Hmmmm, it would be interesting indeed to hear an officient explanation of Israel's "legal obligations", and how those are ameniable to "coefficients" and "formulas"....
Why don't you notice this?
should stop selling drone and phosphorous bombs and tanks and bulldozers and all the other highly sophisticated weapons that Israel uses against these primitive homemade rockets. As long as Israel has a clear military advantage, continues to invade, terrorize and blockade territory that is not their own, why would we notice? Oh, and how many people have died as a result of unaimed rockets and mortars in the last 10 years? Twenty times less than died during the FIRST night of bombing of Cast Lead? (It doesn't make the rockets right, but it does put them in a perspective. Like comparing a wife beater to a hired hitman.) See, we are noticing things. Just not the things you want us to notice.
Vittorio, all Occupied peoples resist and fight back. Why do you demand the Palestinians be any different? European countries fought German Occupation; Palestinians fight Israeli occupation and colonisation... same thing. And by the way condemning Israel for immoral, illegal and inhumane acts like occupation and colonisation has nothing to do with hate or bashing... it is the obligation of every citizen of the world who believes in justice and human rights.
How can you preach peace to the Palestinians while developping illegal settlements on their land every day a bit more?
"amount of supplies entering was neither less nor more than the amount Israel permitted" In the US prison system, The same rules apply.
the official line was that restricting the food and good transit to Gaza they would weaken Hamas. Now they tell us that they were permitting enough supplies. The 2 statements fundamentally contradict each other.
...and in the US prison system they are being denied their basic needs? the problem is that people in the west do not understand what basic needs mean, and they therefore complain that Israel is not supplying Gaza with basic needs (pro-palestinian organizations use the words "basic needs" because it sells well), but as this article shows, Israel does care for the Palestinians, and they don't deny them their basic needs (NEITHER LESS nor more) based on the formulas of what the Palestinians need. ("based on well-known basic foodstuffs, in consultation with the Israeli Health Ministry and in consideration of family consumption habits in Gaza, as published by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics in 2006.") The thing that Israel is denying them is the luxuries of the west, such as cars etc... but Israel is entitled to block them of luxuries to keep Hamas out of power. (I'm not saying that that's the reason for the blockade)
is an open air prison. Why is that?
Hasbara contradicting itself?! No! Next you're going to tell me that "pre-emptive counterstrike" is a contradiction!
A close look at this article makes clear that steps were taken to ensure no deprivation, all the while Gaza is lead by an elected Government sworn to destroy Israel and regular rocket attacks. Hats off to Israel. There is no better example of how a liberal democracy should be run!!!! Meanwhile, Given Ms. Hass' well-known anti-occupation opinions, one needs to wonder whether this is fact or opinion.
the level of support for Israel just drops all the more.
the level of support for Israel just drops all the more.
the level of support for Israel just drops all the more.
That makes their blockade illegal under international law. And any attempt to enforce this blockade is also illegal.
Don't cite the 4th Geneva Convention as it does not apply - Gaza is not occupied. In order for there to be an occupation, the occupying power must have effective control. This means it has replaced the territory’s government's authority with its own. Hamas, however, reigns supreme in Gaza. An occupation cannot exist when a territory’s government has full control over its territory. A blockade is not an occupation. If you wish to cite customary international law, then I expect to see you cite the two requirements for it to be applicable to Israel: State Practice and Opinio Juris.
If you don't like it you can call it a political opinion, but your taste doesn't decide if an action is legal or not. Until Hamas is kicked out or learns that they'll only advance through peace, we'll remove the weapons embargo. Remind me about any other blockade in history that didn't affect the population to some extent. Do you think the people of Cuba were living well? What about the blockade Britain had on those islands? Don't be a hypocrite.
The world still regards Gaza as occupied even if you don't. I'd say that puts you in the minority! As for the blockade - well, that's illegal under several international laws, mainly because it is primarily aimed to punish the civilian popultion.
There is a very easy way for the debate between whether Israel's blockade is illegal or not. Israel should consent to have the case heard by the International Court of Justice. What is Israel hiding from?
All I can say Israel is I hope the international community has good mathematicians for when BDS fully impacts this is how your citizens may be surviving.
Legal obligations as in the Geneva Convention. Israeli Jews are sweating as the true story of the blockade of Gaza becomes apparent. Warcrimes have been committed, and as Livni has dixcovered international arrest warrants have been issued.
The mere fact that one country has controlled what another gets into their country, is unbelievable. Basic needs have been denied to a people, and it is inhuman to withhold simple needs like food and medicine. This is nothing but punishment. Israel has deprived the children of Palestine writing implements, toys, and education. No wonder they throw stones!
What a mess, humaitarian troubles boo hoo. Hamas is the address to take your complaints to They are first and last responsible for this entire mess. remember ISrael is pout of all of gaza. hamas rules woo hoo!
And all of these policies would be reverse instantly if the Government of the Gaza Strip would abide by its agreements made by the PA.
it seem like you didn't understand the article. if you read the article you would understand that; 1. they didn't deny the basic needs, and that they made sure that there would not be a crisis. 2. there were stuff which were not on the lists, that made their way into Gaza, meaning that extra stuff came in besides for the basic needs.
it seem like you didn't understand the article. if you read the article you would understand that; 1. they didn't deny the basic needs, and that they made sure that there would not be a crisis. 2. there were stuff which were not on the lists, that made their way into Gaza, meaning that extra stuff came in besides for the basic needs.
"They are first and last responsible for this entire mess." Hamas came AFTER Israel began usurping the Palestinians.. "remember ISrael is pout of all of gaza" Yet it can restrict what food stuffs go into Gaza... AMAZING the control Israel has for a non-occupier...
The blockade started in 1991. When Israel was still building settlements and swimming pools in Gaza. The blockade started 14 years before Hamas won the election.
Maybe that'd solve the problem of the illegal settlements in the West Bank.
All this would stop if israil stopped stealing land and moved out of the occupied land
The policy is insane and self-defeating.
They don't need clothes? What other industries were harmed?
The only "businessmen" who'll exist once its all said and done will be the Hamas people who made it rich with the tunnels - thank you very much ISRAEL!
One famous politician has said a long time ago:"The destructive policy will always be also self-destructive.
I think you maybe missing the point. Israels stated aim from the get go was to undermine hamas. Now apparently war is an unacceptable response to Hamas, targeted killing is unacceptable, economic sanctions are also now unacceptable. so i geuss israel should just take 8 years of rocket fire I mean motars are just heavy rain arent they? Hamas states it will continue to attack Israeli soverign territory,and has no intention of entering into peace negotiations, so unless you really believe that a country should allow its citizens to be attacked in discriminatly pray please tell what you would suggest should be done to convince Hamas (who are apparently democratically elected representatives,) to re evaluate there stance. if you have a good a idea i will be the first support it. This is a war for both sides and no one really wants to live in a continuous war.
The aid isn't meant to help businesses. It is to help people. It didn't say anything about not sending clothes. Just said they wouldn't import cloth and thread. I can't make a judgment since I do not know what the complete list is but I would assume they sent generic clothes as part of the imports.
The khafiya business in Gaza went kaput because they couldn't compete on price with China. Neither can Egypt. Figure that one out.