OSI-Supported Video Marks Two Years of Gaza Closure

Human rights organizations in Israel have released a short film, funded in part by the Open Society Institute, to mark the two-year anniversary of the closure of the Gaza Strip.

With the message "Lift the closure: Give life a chance," the video calls on Israel to end the siege and argues that two years of tight closure have created a situation in which both Palestinians and Israelis lose.  The film is posted online and is being disseminated through social networking sites and blogs in Israel and around the world.

Since June 2007, Israel has tightened the closure of the Gaza Strip, almost completely preventing passage of goods and people to and from the Strip.

Participating organizations include Gisha Legal Center for Freedom of Movement, Adalah, Association for Civil Rights in Israel, B'Tselem,  HaMoked, Physicians for Human Rights - Israel, the Public Committee Against Torture in Israel, and Yesh Din.

"The policy of closure has harsh consequences for 1.5 million people who are prevented from realizing their basic rights," say the organizations. "Israel must lift the closure of the Gaza Strip for the betterment of both sides."