Movement in and out of Gaza: update covering December 2022

23 Jan 2023

Highlights

In December 2022, the Israeli authorities allowed more exists of people from Gaza compared with any time since the early 2000s.
Israeli authorities lifted a five-week-long ban on the transport of fresh fish to West Bank markets, albeit in limited volumes.
The entry of goods through the Israeli and Egyptian borders slightly decreased.

Background: Longstanding restrictions on the movement of people and goods to and from Gaza have undermined the living conditions of over two million Palestinian residents. Many of the current restrictions, originally imposed by the Israeli authorities in the early 1990s, were intensified after June 2007, following the Hamas takeover of Gaza when the Israeli authorities imposed a blockade. While recently there has been some easing in importation restrictions, they continue to reduce access to livelihoods, essential services and housing, disrupt family life, and undermine people’s hopes for a secure and prosperous future. The situation has been compounded by the restrictions imposed by the Egyptian authorities at Rafah crossing.

During this reporting period and until 26 December, the Israeli authorities did not allow Palestinian fishermen to transport fresh fish to the West Bank. Photo by OCHA

Movement of people to Israel and the West Bank

In December, the Israeli authorities allowed 45,640 exits of people from Gaza (in most cases, travellers exited multiple times). This is the highest number of exits on record since the early 2000s (records go back to 2004). This is more than six times higher than the monthly average in 2021 but only 9 per cent of the monthly average in 2000, before the imposition of category-based access restrictions by the Israeli authorities.
About 87 per cent of the exits were by Palestinians allowed out under the ‘traders’ and ‘economic needs’ permit category, most of whom are employed as day labourers in Israel.
9 per cent of the exits were by patients referred for medical treatment in the West Bank or Israel and their companions. A total of 1,802 exit-permit applications were submitted to the Israeli Authorities for medical appointments scheduled for December. Of them, 21 per cent were not approved on time.

Background: Palestinians are banned from leaving Gaza via Israel, including for passage to the West Bank, unless they obtain an Israeli-issued exit permit. Only those belonging to certain categories, primarily traders (including de facto daily labourers), patients and their accompaniers, and aid workers, can apply for such permits. Other people are not eligible for a permit, even if they do not pose a security risk, according to the Israeli authorities. In most cases, the Israeli authorities do not provide specific reasons for the rejection of an application. If an application is approved, the permit holder may cross through the Israeli-controlled Erez crossing, which operates during the daytime, from Sunday to Thursday, and on Fridays for urgent cases and foreign nationals only.

Monthly average of exits to/via Israel (people)

Movement of people to Egypt

In December, the Egyptian authorities allowed 13,270 exits (some travellers may have exited multiple times). This is slightly higher than the number of exits allowed in November, and 58 per cent more than the monthly average in 2021, when COVID-19 restrictions largely applied.
Some 382 people were denied entry to Egypt, compared with 455 denials in November 2022.

Background: Palestinians wishing to leave Gaza via Egypt must register with the local Palestinian authorities two to four weeks in advance. People may also apply directly to the Egyptian authorities, using the services of a private company. The procedures and decisions by both authorities lack transparency. Those that are approved exit through the Rafah Crossing, controlled by the Egyptian authorities, which operates from Sundays to Thursdays. The journey through the Sinai desert is often lengthy and includes multiple stops for checks by Egyptian security forces.

Monthly average of exits to Egypt (people)

Incoming goods

General goods (excluding fuel and gas)

In December, 10,210 truckloads of authorized goods entered Gaza, 5 per cent below the previous month, and 29 per cent more than the monthly average in 2021. However, this was 9 per cent lower than the monthly average on the eve of the blockade in 2007, although Gaza’s population has grown by more than 55 per cent since then.
Of the goods entered, 46 per cent were construction materials and 29 per cent were food supplies. About 3 per cent were humanitarian aid facilitated by international organizations, including food and medical supplies.
64 per cent of the goods entered, went in via Israel. This volume is 2 per cent lower than the previous month, and almost 2 per cent lower than the monthly average in 2021.
Of the goods entered via Israel, over 29 per cent were construction materials (mainly aggregates, cement, and steel bars). This is 19 per cent below the monthly average recorded in 2021.
The remaining 36 per cent of the goods that entered, went in via the Egypt border, which opened for imports on 13 days. This is 11 per cent below the volume in November, and about three times more than the monthly average in 2021.
Of the goods entered via Egypt, more than 76 per cent were construction materials. Most of the remaining goods were food items.

Background: Since the imposition of the blockade in 2007, the Israeli authorities have restricted the entry into Gaza of goods they consider having a dual (civilian and military) use, such as building materials, certain medical equipment, and some agricultural items. Some of these goods may be allowed entry, following a lengthy application and review process. It is worth noting that, recently, a limited number of these items, such as cement and steel bars, have been allowed to enter Gaza. The entry of all goods from or via Israel (including non-restricted goods) is only possible via the Kerem Shalom crossing, following prior coordination with Israeli authorities. Since 2018, goods have also entered Gaza regularly from Egypt, via the Rafah crossing, controlled by the Egyptian authorities, and then through the adjacent Salah Ad Din Gate, controlled by the local authorities.

Monthly average of incoming goods to Gaza (truckloads)

Fuel and gas

The volume of petrol and diesel entering Gaza from Israel and Egypt in December increased by 5 per cent compared with November. Nevertheless, it was 7 per cent lower than the monthly average in 2021.
The volume of industrial diesel entered for the Gaza Power Plant increased by 40 per cent compared with November, and was 13 per cent higher than the monthly average in 2021.
Cooking gas imports decreased by 7 per cent compared with November, and were 17 per cent higher in volume than the monthly average in 2021.

Outgoing goods

In December, 725 truckloads of authorized goods exited Gaza, 40 per cent more than in the previous month, and 91 per cent more than the monthly average in 2021.
The Israeli authorities lifted a ban, imposed between 7 November and 26 December, on the transfer of fresh fish to the West Bank, allowing the exit of 10 tons (3 truckloads). However, they reduced the quota from 20 tons to 10 tons per week.
Overall, the Israeli authorities allowed the exit of 577 truckloads of authorized goods, 39 per cent more than in the previous month. Still, this was 40 per cent below the monthly average on the eve of the blockade in 2007.
About 71 per cent of the outgoing goods went to the West Bank, 29 per cent was exported to Israel, and less than 1 per cent was shipped abroad. Vegetables accounted for 60 per cent of the exiting goods, strawberries 24 per cent, textiles 8 per cent, while the remainder included furniture, aluminium scrap, used copper, furniture, and fish.
Another 148 truckloads were exported to Egypt, carrying scrap iron and used batteries. This is 43 per cent lower than in the previous month. In 2022, Egypt authorized only four types of commodities to exit through its border: scrap batteries, iron scrap, aluminium scrap, and copper scrap.

Background: Most products traded outside of Gaza are transported to markets via the Israeli-controlled Kerem Shalom crossing, where only certain types of commodities are allowed, and various restrictions apply. The exit of goods to the West Bank and Israel, the main markets, was totally banned between 2007 and 2014, then gradually reinstated. Since August 2021, certain goods have been exported to Egypt, via Rafah crossing.

Monthly average of outgoing goods from Gaza (truckloads)