The Director General of the Government Media Office in the Gaza Strip, Dr. Ismail Ibrahim Al-Thawabta, affirmed that the Israeli occupation continues to violate the understandings regarding the regulation of travel through the Rafah land crossing, through systematic restrictive policies and arbitrary practices that render the agreement devoid of its humanitarian content.
In a press statement to Al-Risala Net, Al-Thawabta said that the procedures implemented on the ground have transformed the understandings into a mere formality, lacking any practical impact that alleviates the suffering of citizens or guarantees their right to freedom of movement.
He explained that the understandings stipulate the passage of 200 travelers daily through the crossing, with 150 departures and 50 returns. However, the actual numbers have not exceeded 30% of the agreed-upon figure, which he considered a fundamental flaw in implementation and a clear violation of the agreement’s terms.
He noted that the office has received testimonies from travelers who reported being subjected to humiliating search procedures, deliberate harassment, and psychological pressure, in addition to the confiscation of personal belongings and gifts without legal justification.
He added that these practices constitute a flagrant violation of human rights and contravene the provisions of international humanitarian law, particularly those related to the protection of civilians and their dignity while crossing checkpoints.
Al-Thawabta called on the international community, the United Nations, and the guarantors of the agreements to intervene urgently and exert pressure to compel the occupation to fully implement what was agreed upon, and to provide genuine monitoring mechanisms to ensure an end to the violations and the protection of travelers’ rights.
