The blockade of the Gaza strip: humanitarian impacts and international legal characterization

• Main Author: Elshobake, Mohammed R. M.
• Format: Proceeding Paper
• Language: English
• Published: 2023
• Subjects: JX International law; K Law (General); K85 Legal research
• Online Access: http://irep.iium.edu.my/108635/1/108635_the%20blockade%20of%20the%20Gaza%20strip.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/108635/

The Blockade of the Gaza strip was put into place by Israeli Occupation in June 2007. The Gaza siege has confined more than 1.4 million Palestinian men, women and children trapped in the Gaza Strip. The blockade has effectively restricted vital supplies such as food, medicine and fuel to "bare subsistence levels", creating a variety of traumatizing challenges to the normalcy of daily life in Gaza. Israel's continued blockade of Gaza strip is a gross breach of international law and international humanitarian law as a form of collective punishment. The research aims to examine the humanitarian consequences of the blockade imposed on the Gaza Strip and assess its compliance with international law. In addition, it seeks to analyse the impact of the blockade on the civilian population, including access to essential goods and services, health care, education, and freedom of movement. Furthermore, the research pursues to determine whether the blockade violates international legal principles, such as the right to life, the right to health, and the prohibition of collective punishment. This research will employ doctrinal research, descriptive approach, and critical analysis. It will involve a comprehensive review of relevant international legal instruments, including international humanitarian law, human rights conventions, and United Nations resolutions. The study will also rely on reports and data from international organizations, non-governmental organizations, and testimonies from affected individuals to gain insights into the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip. Studying the blockade of the Gaza Strip holds significant value on multiple levels. From a humanitarian perspective, it highlights the daily challenges faced by the Palestinian in Gaza, including food insecurity, limited access to healthcare, and restricted movement. Moreover, from an international legal perspective, it provides an analysis of the legal characterization of Gaza siege under international law, which can lead to hold Israeli occupation accountable and promoting justice for the Palestinian people.