AhlulBayt News Agency - Robert Piper, the UN's coordinator for humanitarian aid in the occupied Palestinian territories urged Israel to restore Palestinians’ right to free movement and to ease restrictions on the besieged enclave of Gaza.
“As many of us join this celebratory event, we remain acutely aware of the many barriers to freedom of movement faced by Palestinians every day,” Piper said during the annual marathon hosted by the occupied West Bank city of Bethlehem.
“I am sorry to hear that Gazan runners, including last year’s marathon winner Nader al Masri, have not been granted permits by the Israeli occupation authorities to participate in today’s event for example,” he said.
The UN statement highlighted the extensive movement restrictions faced by Palestinians, which it said “permeate almost all facets of everyday life and continue to separate Palestinians and fragment the territory.”
Freedom of movement is not only a right in itself, but is essential for the enjoyment of many other human rights. As detailed by the Secretary-General in his latest report dated 20 January 2016 (A/HRC/31/44), the restrictions on freedom of movement imposed by Israel on the occupied Palestinian territory permeate almost all facets of everyday life and continue to separate Palestinians and fragment the territory.
In the West Bank, the nature of restrictions on the freedom of movement can be physical – the Barrier, checkpoints, roadblocks; as well as bureaucratic – such as permits and the closure of areas.
In the Gaza Strip, the eight-year blockade continues to limit the movement of people and goods in and out of the Gaza Strip and between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Such restrictions impede access to basic services and justice, as well as essential infrastructure, and prevent access to land and resources. “Overall, these policies undermine opportunities for the development of a viable and contiguous Palestinian state,” said Mr. Piper.
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