A/HRC/15/51 E. Action by the State of Israel 29. In paragraph 1972 of its report, the Mission addressed a total of nine recommendations to the State of Israel. 30. In paragraph 1972 (a) of its report, the Mission recommended that Israel should immediately cease the border closures and restrictions on passage through border crossings with the Gaza Strip and allow the passage of goods necessary and sufficient to meet the needs of the population, for the recovery and reconstruction of housing and essential services, and for the resumption of meaningful economic activity in the Gaza Strip. 31. On 20 June 2010, the Government of Israel announced a new policy in relation to border closures and restrictions on passage through border crossings with the Gaza Strip.9 In connection with this announcement, a list detailing items that were banned or otherwise restricted from entering Gaza was released.10 According to the new list, the entry of arms and munitions and “dual-use” goods and items11 would be subject to specific permission by the Government. Moreover, construction items and materials were to be allowed entry only for projects authorized by the Palestinian Authority and implemented by the international community. Since the announcement of the new policy, new food and productive items have been allowed into Gaza and the volume of imports has increased steadily. A total of 696 truckloads of goods entered Gaza between 20 and 26 June 2010, immediately after the announcement, a six per cent increase compared to the weekly average of 553 truckloads that entered in 2010 prior to the announcement.12 In the week between 18 and 24 July 2010, the number of truckloads reached 979;13 by 7 August 2010, the number stood at an average of 1006 truckloads per week. However, this figure only represents 36 per cent of the weekly average of the first five months of 2007, before the imposition of the blockade.14 Approvals have also been given for a number of additional United Nations projects in the vital areas of education and health. Israel continues to prohibit all exports from Gaza.15 32. In paragraph 1972 (b) of its report, the Mission recommended that Israel should cease the restrictions on access to the sea for fishing purposes imposed on the Gaza Strip and allow such fishing activities within the 20 nautical miles as provided for in the Oslo Accords. It also recommended that Israel should allow the resumption of agricultural activity within the Gaza Strip, including within areas in the vicinity of the borders with Israel. 33. Israeli naval forces continue to prohibit Gazans access beyond three nautical miles from the shore and within a 300-metre wide strip of land near the border fence. This has drastically reduced the quantity and quality fishing activities. As a result, nearly 90 per cent of Gazan fishermen now live in either poverty or extreme poverty.16 Fishermen going 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 8 See Israeli Security Cabinet Decision of 20 June 2010. See the Civilian policy towards the Gaza Strip: the implementation of the Cabinet Decision (June 2010), State of Israel, Ministry of Defense, Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, June 2010. Ibid. “Dual-use” times are defined as “liable to be used, side by side with their civilian purposes, for the development, production, installation or enhancement of military capabilities and terrorist capacities”. See Protection of Civilian Weekly Report, United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs Occupied Palestinian territory (OCHA-OPT), 23-29 June 2010. Ibid., 18-24 July 2010. Ibid., 28 July-10 August 2010. Letter received by OHCHR from the Permanent Mission of Israel, Geneva, 28 June 2010. See “Gaza closure: not another year”, International Committee of the Red Cross, press release of 14 June 2010, available at www.icrc.org/web/eng/siteeng0.nsf/html/palestine-update-140610.