Gazans Form Human Chain

(Eyad Baba/AP)

By Laura Zuber
Impunity Watch Senior Desk Officer, Middle East

BEIT HANOUN, Gaza – On February 25, thousands of Palestinians, mostly women and children, gathered to form a human chain in a demonstration against Israel’s closure.  The demonstration, organized by the Popular Committee Against the Siege, expected that over 40,000 Palestinians would form a human chain along Saleheddin Road, the main highway running approximately 25 miles along the north-south border.  Hamas supported the demonstration, Gaza closed their schools and so students could participate in the demonstration.

Jamal al-Khudary, a Palestinian MP, with close links to Hamas, led the planning and organizing of the demonstration.  He stated that the demonstration was “a peaceful and civilized act to let the people express their rejection of the siege and of collective punishment.”  He said that the demonstrators are “raising a cry to the world for it to act.”

Fawzi Barhum, spokesperson for Hamas, stated that demonstration was “a message addressed to the international community and to the Israeli occupation,” and that he hoped that Israel will “seize the opportunity to lift the siege.” 

Israel imposed increasingly harsh restrictions on the border following the Hamas takeover in June 2007.  Currently, the border is completely closed, except for vital humanitarian supplies.  Huzeifa al-Masri, age 14, participated in the demonstration.  He said that he took part in the protest because “there is hardly any food, and the Israeli incursions are frequent.”

Prior to the demonstration, there were concerns that the demonstrators would attempt to storm the border and compromise the security along the border.  The Israeli Defense Force increased the number of soldiers along the border and practiced a variety of different scenarios should the border be threatened.  Prior to the demonstration, Israel warned Hamas and the demonstrators that it would defend its territory and the responsibility would fall on Hamas.

A joint statement, released by Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni and Defense Minister Ehud Barak, said that “Israel will not intervene in demonstrations inside the Gaza Strip but it will ensure the defense of its territory and prevent any violation of its sovereign borders.”  The statement also accused Hamas of "orchestrating a premeditated effort to put civilians on the front line."

However, turnout was lower than expected and the chain was not completed in some areas.  Various causes for the low turnout are thought to be the intermittent rain in the region and the fear caused by Israel’s statement.

A group of protesters did attempt to approach the Erez border crossing.  However, Hamas police officers stopped their approach about a half mile before the crossing.  Also, a separate group of youths approached the crossing and threw stones and a burning tyre at the IDF soldiers at the crossing.  This demonstration led to shots being fired to disperse the crowds and to the arrests of approximately 50 individuals.

Prior to the demonstration, two separate IDF raids into Gaza resulted in the deaths of three militants; two in a raid near Khan Yunis.  According to Al Jazeera, these deaths bring the toll to 190 Palestinians killed since peace talks began in November 2007. 

Also, IDF reported that on February 24, five smuggling tunnels were found in Gaza and around 40 Palestinians were detained in the territory’s frontier.

Shortly after the demonstration, several rockets were fired at the Israeli town of Sderot, injuring one Israeli boy.

For more information, please see:
New York Times – Gazans Protest at Border Fence – 26 February 2008

AFP – Gazans Form “Human Chain” to Protest Israeli Blockade – 25 February 2008

Al Jazeera – Gaza Rally Condemns Israeli Siege – 25 February 2008

Associated Press – Hamas Protests Israeli Blockade of Gaza – 25 February 2008

BBC – Gaza Protesters Form Human Chain – 25 February 2008

Gulf Daily News – Human Chain Against Blockade – 25 February 2008

Jerusalem Post – Gaza Human Chain a Few Links Short – 25 February 2008

Middle East Times – Gazan Human Chain Protests Israel Blockade – 25 February 2008

Times (London) – Women and Children in Gaza Form Human Chain – 25 February 2008