What Is Really Going On at Columbia University?

[Nanjeanne]

66. Ok let's talk about what you think about these facts. If you want to discuss semantics over occupied

that’s fine. You give me the correct word. But let’s talk about life in Gaza.

Israel contends that its role as occupying power in the Gaza Strip ended in September 2005, when it dismantled all settlements there, withdrew its military forces and declared the end of the military government. OK.

Though Israel is clearly no longer responsible for keeping the peace inside Gaza, and is not generally obliged to see to the welfare of its residents under the laws of occupation, it is still the power that shapes the daily lives of Gaza residents, and as such, also bears responsibility towards them.

Israel declared an end to its military administration in Gaza, it continues to control critical aspects of life there. all border crossings by land, apart from Rafah, as well as Gaza’s sea and air space. This control allows Israel to exclusively monitor the movement of people and goods in and out of Gaza, which it regulates according to Israeli interests. This holds true even when Gaza residents wish only to transit through Israel in order to reach the West Bank or other countries. Even Rafah Crossing on the Egypt border Rafah Crossing, which is subject to Egyptian control and opened only infrequently may be used only by individuals who meet strict Israeli criteria that changeds every so often.

The Blockade began in the 1990s, with the imposition of a closure on all the Occupied Territories and the introduction of the requirement for every Palestinian from these territories – with the exception of areas annexed to Israel – to request a personal permit to enter Israel, even if only for the purpose of travel between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip or abroad. Over the years, Israel has made it increasingly difficult to obtain these permits. Is this occupation? Control? It certainly isn’t having rights.

The 2nd Intifa caused tighter restrictions and separated the Gaza Strip from the West Bank almost completely. Travel abroad for Gazans is almost impossible. Even entering Israel. And Israel also controls import and export of goods. In 2010 there was an international pressure placed so Israel loosened some of the goods restrictions but its still quite strict.

Air and sea - The Oslo Accords stipulate a range of 20 nautical miles (about 37 km) off the Gaza shoreline, but Israel has never allowed fishing farther than 12 nautical miles out to sea. Over the years, Israel has gradually narrowed the fishing zone, sometimes to three nautical miles only, and currently between six and nine. The Israeli military also restricts fishing in areas bordering Israel and Egypt.

Electricity is supplied only a few hours a day. This is partly because of a fuel shortage caused by high costs, and partly because of restrictions Israel imposes on the entry of spare parts to maintain existing systems including parts needed to repair the facility Israel bombed in 2006.

No status - In the Oslo Accords, the power to administer the population registry of the West Bank and Gaza Strip was handed over to the Palestinian Authority (PA). The Oslo Accords stipulated that the PA would maintain and manage the registry and that it would have authority to issue ID cards and visitor permits as well as to register children under 16 born abroad, provided one of their parents was registered as a resident of the Occupied Territories. However, it was also stipulated that the Palestinians must notify Israel of every change they make to the Population Registry and must receive Israeli approval to grant residency to spouses and children of Palestinian residents through the family reunification procedure. Israeli approval was also required for issuing visitor permits for the Occupied Territories. In 2000, Israel discontinued updating its copy of the Population Registry and no longer recognizes the changes made by the PA ever since. Israel currently allows the PA to register only births and deaths and to replace worn documents. As a result, neither the PA nor the Hamas government can issue ID cards to stateless residents nor approve applications for family reunification.

Today 40,000 to 50,000 Palestinians reside in the Gaza Strip without status.

There’s lots of info out there you can start with Brittanica or B’Tselem.

Whether you believe my “story” or not is really insulting but not of any major concern to me.