Actions Speak Louder than Words

Even as Prime Minister Netanyahu talks of a Palestinian state:

Israel is formalizing the separation between Gaza and the West Bank

Palestinian StatePalestinian State

??

Israel blocks transit from the West Bank

to the Gaza Strip for the purpose of relocation

*Article 3 from the new procedure

…"a family relationship, in and of itself, does not qualify

as a humanitarian reason that would justify settlement

by Gaza residents in the Judea and Samaria Area".

Relocation from Gazato the West Bank

• Orphans,

• Elderly invalids, and

• Chronically-ill People

IF :

• Have first-degree relatives in the West Bank,

• No relatives able to care for them in the Gaza Strip,

and

• pass a security clearance.

ONLY :

Israel:Requests by spouses to live together,

like requests by children to live with their parents:

will be rejected out of hand without being considered.

Maha and Saad Shashniya Saad is caring for his sick mother in Tulkarem, in

the West Bank and cannot leave her unattended. Israel will not allow his wife, Maha and their infant son, Ahmad, to travel from the Gaza Strip to the West Bank.

Saad has not seen his wife and son for over two months.Maha: “Everyone knows about the siege on Gaza, but I’m the only one who knows my personal pain”.

!DeniedNot Humanitarian

Nariman and Luqman Shadid The couple signed a marriage contract, but the

bride and her relatives have not received a permit to travel to the West Bank for the wedding.

Nariman: “It’s very hard for me to be so far away from the joy I have looked for all my life”.

!DeniedNot Humanitarian

Jamal Abu Sa’ad, father to Firras, aged 8, Sujoud aged 7 and Habib al-Rahman aged 2. His wife Sahar whose registered address is in the West Bank traveled to the West Bank with the children in June 2009. Jamal, whose registered address is Gaza was not permitted to travel with them.

Jamal: “I can’t care for my children and their needs, be there for them, give them security. The kids start talking to me on the phone, they speak normally, but soon they break down and start to cry: we want you Daddy”.

!DeniedNot Humanitarian

Hind and Hussein Abu Ghali The couple signed a marriage contract, but she has

not received a permit to travel to the West Bank for the wedding. The couple has been waiting to realize their marriage and start their shared life for three years.

(HaMoked petitioned the Supreme Court on their behalf, HCJ 2430/08)

Hussein: “My emotional state is very difficult. I want to start a new life with the woman I chose, and Israel is denying me this.”

!DeniedNot Humanitarian

Fathiya Abu Jalaleh, mother of five, lived in the West Bank for over ten years. In January 2008 she returned with her four minor children to the Gaza Strip. Her husband, Issam and their eldest son remained in Jenin due to the father’s position with the National Security.In the two years since, Israel has prevented the family from reuniting in the West Bank as Fathiya’s registered address is in Gaza.

Fathiya: “I want my children to reunite. My eldest son remained with his father in the West Bank. I want my children to see their father whom they haven’t seen for two and a half years. I want to see my eldest son.”

!DeniedNot Humanitarian

Suzie and Asa’ad Abu Sha’banThe couple signed a marriage contract, but the bride and her son from her first marriage have not received a permit to travel to the West Bank for the wedding.

Suzie: “I have been trying for a year and a half. I’m always following the news, maybe I’ll see a light at the end of the tunnel.”

!DeniedNot Humanitarian

Alya Al Hadar, mother of three, Adi aged 11, Luay aged 10, Muhammad aged 7, married Issa whose registered address is in the West Bank in 1996. In January 2010, Issa returned to the West Bank. Israel is preventing the family from reuniting in the West Bank, as Alya’s registered address is in Gaza.

Issa: “The situation has become unbearable. My children don’t know how to cope in Gaza without their father. They have no one to care for them there. The children never calm down. I talk to them on the phone ten times a day, but it’s not enough. They’re always asking: When will we go to you? When will you come?”

!DeniedNot Humanitarian

Samah Qushta, mother of three, Wadi’a aged 5, Jaber aged 3, and Muhammad aged 9 months, married Hussein in 2002. Hussein’s registered address is in the West Bank. Hussein returned to the West Bank in early December 2009.Israel is preventing the family from reuniting in the West Bank as Samah’s registered address is in Gaza.

Hussein: “I hope they come to me here. Without my wife and children my head is never quiet. How are the kids? Is one of them sick or something like that? I’m always worried…. Everything I do is in order to build a better future for my children.”

!DeniedNot Humanitarian

"The two sides view the West Bank and Gaza Strip as a single territorial unit"

Israel has created a 7 year long process for Palestinians to “acquire citizenship” in their own

territory.

*Annex I, Article IV, Oslo Accords

“One way, single” passage from the West Bank to the Gaza Strip

Jamal and Hadil Bardawil Hadil and her two young daughters are in Gaza.

Israel will not permit their passage to the West Bank.

(HaMoked petitioned the Supreme Court on their behalf, HCJ 3911/08)Transfer

Jamal, who did not seen his family for many months asked to visit Gaza but was permitted to do so only after signing an undertaking never to return to the West Bank.

Thank You.

www.hamoked.orgwww.gisha.org