A/HRC/12/48
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sorts of aggression must stop”.101 The Israeli Foreign Minister commented, “I do not care which
organization fired the rocket, Israel must respond militarily and immediately.”102
233. On 27 June 2008, the al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades claimed responsibility for firing mortar
shells into Israel, one of which landed near Sderot. The head of the Gaza authorities, Ismail
Haniyah, called on all the Palestinian factions to adhere to the ceasefire, stating that “the factions
and the people accepted the lull in order to secure two interests – an end to aggression and the
lifting of the siege”. A spokesman for the Gaza authorities was quoted as saying that it
considered the rocket attacks to be “unpatriotic” and that Hamas was considering the possibility
of taking action against those perpetrating the attacks against Israel.103
234. On 28 June 2008, mortar shells were reportedly fired at the Karni crossing but no group
claimed responsibility. On 29 June 2008, the crossings into Gaza were closed, 104 save for the
delivery of fuel.
235. On 30 June 2008, Israel reported that a rocket fired from Gaza fell near the kibbutz of
Miflasim. No group claimed responsibility and Israel confirmed that as of 1 July 2008 no rocket
fragments had been located. Israel closed the crossings which had been reopened the day before.
The Gaza authorities rejected the assertion that a rocket had in fact been fired and called the
closure of the crossings “unjustified”.105
236. On several occasions during the last two weeks of June, the Israeli navy fired at
Palestinian fishermen off the Gaza coast, forcing them to return to shore.106
237. During the month of June, the number of truckloads of goods allowed into Gaza
represented only 17 per cent of the number that entered Gaza in May 2007, before Hamas seized
control of the Gaza Strip. No exports had been allowed out of Gaza by Israel since December
2007.107
101
Xinhua News, “Israeli FM calls for immediate military response …”.
Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs: “FM Livni: Israel will not tolerate violations of the calm”, press release
(26 June 2008), available at: http://www.mfa.gov.il/MFA/About+the+Ministry/MFA+Spokesman/2008/
Israel%20will%20not%20tolerate%20violations%20of%20the%20calm%2026-Jun-2008.
102
Ynet News, “Haniyeh: All Palestinian factions should honor truce”, 27 June 2008;
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3561133,00.html.
103
Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center at the Israel Intelligence Heritage & Commemoration Center,
“The six months of the lull arrangement”, December 2008.
104
The Guardian, “Israel closes Gaza crossing after reported rocket attack”, 1 July 2008, available at:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jul/01/israelandthepalestinians.middleeast.
105
OCHA, Protection of Civilians Weekly Report (18–24 June 2008) and Protection of Civilians Weekly Report (25
June–1 July 2008).
106
OCHA, The Humanitarian Monitor, No. 26 (June 2008), available at http://www.ochaopt.org/documents/
HM_June_2008.pdf.
107
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