A/HRC/23/21 tightened restrictions in the access restricted areas on land and at sea. It also adopted severe measures to enforce the areas, including live-fire shooting without warning, which in some cases left civilians, including farmers, seriously injured. Four Palestinians have been killed and 106 injured by Israel in access restricted areas since the ceasefire. 12 Israeli naval forces increased their attacks on Palestinian fishermen within six nautical miles by using rubber and live bullets, at times without advance warning, despite the ceasefire agreement that had extended the fishing zone from three to six nautical miles. Israel Defense Forces tanks and bulldozers have also made numerous incursions over the past months into Gaza to undertaken levelling and excavations. 29. On 21 March, Israel again reduced the maritime area along the coast, reducing it by three nautical miles. 13 Fishermen aiming to fish in areas up to six nautical miles were ordered by Israel by megaphone to return to within three nautical miles. On 23 and 24 March, Israeli naval forces opened fire on Palestinian boats located at 1.5 nautical miles from the coast.14 30. The Special Rapporteur is concerned at Israel’s periodic closure of the Kerem Shalom crossing as a retaliatory measure to tighten the stranglehold on Gaza. Kerem Shalom is the crossing point for goods, of which approximately 40 per cent is food and other basic supplies, including cooking gas. Its prolonged closure leads to shortages of basic items and higher prices of commodities. After 21 March, Israel closed the Kerem Shalom crossing, bringing the movement of goods to a halt for the second time after the earlier closure from 27 February to 3 March. Restrictions were also imposed at the Erez crossing, limiting movement to humanitarian cases holding permits. The Israeli authorities re-opened Kerem Shalom for a day on 28 March, after having closed it for seven successive days. Crossings at Erez and Kerem Shalom resumed again, subject to the pre-21 March restrictions, on 2 April. 31. While the occupying Power’s continued illegal blockade of Gaza and its failure to uphold its responsibilities to ensure the protection of civilians remain of utmost concern, the Special Rapporteur is alarmed at what appears to be the use of collective punishment on the entire civilian population of Gaza by Israel. 32. The ceasefire agreement will continue to be tested, but the Special Rapporteur is mindful that the continued blockade of Gaza remains of primary concern to the residents of Gaza. The Israeli stranglehold is such that Gaza’s monthly exports consist of a few truckloads of cut flowers, date bars, cherry tomatoes and spices. 15 Israel’s blockade is stunting the potential for economic development in the Gaza Strip. III. Palestinian detainees in Israeli prisons and detention centres 33. The Special Rapporteur continues to be concerned by reports on the treatment of thousands of Palestinians who are detained or imprisoned by Israel. At the end of the period 12 13 14 15 OCHA, Protection of Civilians Weekly Report, 19-25 February 2013. Available from www.ochaopt.org/documents/ocha_opt_protection_of_civilians_weekly_report_2013_03_01_english. pdf. Ibid., 19-25 March 2013. Available from www.ochaopt.org/documents/ochaopt_weekly_breifing_notes_2013_03_25_english.pdf. Ibid., 19-25 February 2013 (see footnote 12). State of Israel, Ministry of Defense, Gaza Crossing – Weekly Report, 10 – 16 March 2013. Available from www.cogat.idf.il/Sip_Storage/FILES/5/3895.pdf. 13