A/HRC/16/71 cement and construction materials, thereby impeding reconstruction and economic recovery.2 Economic and social rights, such as the rights to work and food, were acutely affected. The unemployment rate was estimated at more than 44 per cent of Gaza’s workforce. Nearly 1.1 million Palestinians relied on United Nations food assistance.3 Access to electricity improved, yet supply still fell short of demand by around 30 per cent.4 As of 1 September, four to six-hour blackouts affected Gaza on a daily basis. 6. Restrictions on movement continued to negatively impact the right to health. Between February and October, three patients died while requests for permits to travel to the West Bank, Israel or abroad were delayed.5 For instance, a 2-year-old child with cancer, who was scheduled to receive chemotherapy on 6 October, died on 16 October after her permit was delayed.6 7. Restrictions on movement prevented persons in Gaza from visiting family members detained in Israel. Seven hundred and twenty-six Gazans remained detained in Israel,7 in contravention of article 76 of the Geneva Convention relative to the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War (Fourth Geneva Convention). Since the imposition of the blockade, family members of detainees have not been allowed to enter Israel, thereby de facto ending family visits. 8. Indiscriminate rocket and mortar fire from Gaza continued. During the reporting period, Palestinian militants launched an estimated 275 rockets and mortars in the direction of Israel. On 18 March, a rocket landed in Moshav Netiv Ha’asara, killing a foreign national.8 This was the first fatality due to a rocket attack since operation “Cast Lead”. B. Issues of particular concern 1. “Buffer zone” and fishing limit area 9. The Government of Israel continued to restrict access to the 300-metre-wide “buffer zone,” areas located up to about 1,500 metres from the barrier around Gaza, and sea areas beyond 3 nautical miles from shore. IDF regularly fired shots in the direction of Palestinians near these areas, in some cases directly targeting them. On 12 September, an IDF tank stationed at the northern Gaza-Israel barrier fired four shells toward a farm in the Shurrab area. At least two shells landed on the farm,9 killing three Palestinians: Ibrahim Abedallah Sulieman Abu Saied, 91 years old, Husam Khalid Ibrahim Abu Saied, 17 years old, and Isameil Waleed Abu Udah, 17 years old. The farm is located within 800 metres of the barrier. Media reported that IDF sources confirmed the attack, explaining that the three 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 4 Ibid. Humanitarian Monitor, September 2010. Ibid. Information obtained from the World Health Organization (WHO) on 24 November 2010. Case monitored by OHCHR. An appointment was set by Haemek Medical Center for the child on 6 October. IDF refused to grant her father a permit, asking for another companion (her father had accompanied her previously). Following the intervention of human rights organizations, IDF granted the father a permit on 14 October. It was too late as the child’s health condition had deteriorated, and it was not possible to transfer her to the centre. Palestine Monitor, “Palestinian Prisoners Day: 2010”, 22 April 2010. Available from www.palestinemonitor.org/spip/spip.php?article1366. Permanent Mission of Israel to the United Nations Office at Geneva and Other International Organizations, letters to the High Commissioner dated 15 March 2010, 9 April 2010, 30 July 2010, and 22 November 2010. Case monitored by OHCHR, 14–23 September.