A/HRC/31/44 39. The effects of Israeli restrictions on freedom of movement have been exacerbated by the closure of Rafah crossing by the Egyptian authorities on 24 October 2014, following a suicide attack on Egyptian soldiers in the Sinai peninsula (see A/70/421, para. 29). During the reporting period, the crossing at Rafah remained closed except for on 37 partial opening days.43 At the end of October 2015, an estimated 30,000 Palestinians registered as humanitarian cases were waiting to leave Gaza through Rafah.44 40. The blockade on Gaza remains a form of collective punishment and undermines civil, political economic, social and cultural rights (see A/70/421, para. 29). Restrictions on movement within Gaza 41. Israeli authorities have continued to impose a buffer zone within Gaza on land and at sea, in the form of access-restricted areas. Restrictions are enforced through a range of mechanisms, including the use of live fire and the destruction, damage and confiscation of property, as well as arbitrary arrest and detention (see A/70/421, paras. 30-38). 42. During the reporting period,45 according to the Global Protection Cluster three Palestinians, including one child, were shot dead and 82, including 17 children, were injured by Israeli security forces in land-based access-restricted areas. In addition, 54 fishermen, including four children, were detained and 20 were injured, including one child. 43. The enforcement measures used by the Israeli authorities against residents living and working in access-restricted areas significantly undermine the right of Palestinian fishermen and farmers to a livelihood, and have a devastating impact on the rights to life and to physical and mental health. C. Impact of freedom of movement restrictions on other human rights 44. Restrictions on freedom of movement result in Palestinians’ inability to enjoy a wide range of other human rights, particularly those related to economic, social and cultural rights.46 1. Right to education 45. Access to education has been most restricted among East Jerusalem communities beyond the wall, the H2 area of Hebron, the “seam zone” and in the vicinity of closed zones and settlements in Area C. A survey of 33 communities carried out in 2015 showed that almost one in five students in the West Bank must pass a checkpoint to reach school. 47 Body and bag searches are frequent, and schoolchildren and teachers are subject to regular harassment, including verbal intimidation, by Israeli soldiers. 43 44 45 46 47 keys?”, March 2009. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, protection of civilians weekly report for 27 October-2 November 2015. Available from www.ochaopt.org/poc27october-2november-2015.aspx. Ibid., “Gaza crossings’ operations status: monthly update — October 2015”. This excludes the period starting 9 October 2015, when 14 demonstrators were killed and hundreds were injured. See the advisory opinion of the International Court of Justice, para. 134. Civil and political rights are also affected. During the reporting period, OHCHR continued to monitor the case of four elected members of the Palestinian Legislative Council representing East Jerusalem who have been banned from entering their constituency, in violation of political participation rights (see A/67/372, paras. 3940). Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, 2016 Humanitarian Needs Overview: Occupied Palestinian Territory, annex 1, p. 27. See www.ochaopt.org/documents/hno_december29_final.pdf. 9

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