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Housing situation in the occupied Palestinian territories and establishment of a human settlements fund

UN-HABITAT 8 May 2003

The existing conflict in the occupied Palestinian territories has had a negative impact on human settlements and a large number of houses and related infrastructure networks have been destroyed. Since the start of the second intifada around 40,000 dwellings have either been damaged or destroyed. 

PCHR condemns Israel’s recent crackdown on internationals

Palestinian Center for Human Rights 11 May 2003

PCHR condemns the Israeli authorities’ recent decision to impose severe restrictions on internationals entering the Gaza Strip. Over the last ten days internationals have been required to submit to a number of measures before being allowed into Gaza, including signing a declaration exempting Israel from responsibility for death, injury or any damage that they may incur while in the Gaza Strip. 

ISM: Report from May 5th Press Conference in Jerusalem

10 May 2003


“The International Solidarity Movement is a Palestinian-led movement committed to resisting the Israeli occupation of Palestinian land using nonviolent, direct action methods and principles. Recently, ISM has been the focus of a lot of attention and misinformation; attention that we’ve been trying to get for a long time engaging in Palestinian nonviolent resistance. However, usually what we hear from journalists is ‘call us if there is blood.’” The following text is from a 5 May 2003 ISM press conference in Jerusalem. 

Israel's 'We have the right to kill you' visa for Gaza

Nigel Parry and Ali Abunimah 10 May 2003


On 8 May 2003, the Electronic Intifada obtained and published the text of a document distributed by the Israeli military to foreign diplomatic representatives, entitled “Form to be filled out and submitted to IDF authorities prior to entry to the Gaza Strip”. EI’s Nigel Parry and Ali Abunimah look at the document, at Israel’s recent actions in Rafah, and wonder at the new entry conditions which require internationals to affirm they won’t hold Israel responsible for harming them: “I am aware of the risks involved and accept that the Government of the State of Israel and its organs cannot be held responsible for death, injury and/or damage/loss of property which may be incurred as a result of military activity.” 

ISM Update: Detention of Two British Activists at Erez Border Crossing

International Solidarity Movement 9 May 2003

“It has been twenty eight hours since, at 8:30 PM on Thursday evening, May 8, 2003, two British internationals were detained at Erez border crossing at the entrance to the Gaza Strip… Nick was interrogated for many hours by the Shin Bet (Israeli Security Services)…. They are being told that they are being deported. ” Read this ISM advisory and take action. British citizens additionally advised to protest to their governmental representatives. 

Our humanity hangs in the balance

Carel Moiseiwitsch, Gordon Murray and Drew Penland 9 May 2003

“We recently returned from the Occupied Territories of the West Bank and Gaza where we volunteered with the International Solidarity Movement (ISM). Upon returning to Vancouver, we were shocked by the disconnection between our experience of Palestine and its portrayal in the Canadian media. The media must support the search for shared truths and not merely reiterate the formulas of fundamentalist ideologues — on either side of the Mideast conflict — that serve a single interest. All of us are responsible for helping find a humane solution. To be silent is to be complicit in the ongoing oppression.” Three recent Canadian ISM members share their thoughts and concerns in the Winnipeg Free Press. 

Gaza visitors must sign waiver in case army shoots them

Chris McGreal 9 May 2003

The Israeli military yesterday began obliging foreigners entering the Gaza Strip to sign waivers absolving the army from responsibility if it shoots them. Visitors must also declare that
they are not peace activists. The move came hours before an autopsy on James Miller - the British cameraman killed in a Gaza refugee camp - confirmed that he was almost certainly killed by an Israeli soldier, despite the army’s assertions to the contrary. Yesterday, the British government demanded an Israeli military police criminal investigation into Miller’s death and the shooting of another Briton by the army in Gaza, Tom Hurndall, a peace activist. Chris McGreal reports for The Guardian.