The Grassroots International Protection for Palestinians ( GIPP ) is deeply concerned and outraged by the latest escalation by the Israeli Authorities through tightening restrictions imposed on border crossings and military check points which are aiming at denying access of international humanitarian workers to the Gaza Strip.

Recently, the Israeli army prevented Ms. Gurden Bertinussen from entering the Gaza Strip where she is based as the local representative for the Norwegian People’s Aid in Palestine, responsible for overlooking the humanitarian work of her organization.

We strongly condemn such measures which are intentionally bent on depriving our people from the services of provided by the international NGOs at a time when the humanitarian and economic situation in Gaza and in all parts of Palestine, is reaching catastrophic levels, due to the perpetration of the Israeli occupation and its flagrant violations of human rights.

We, therefore, call upon our friends and all humanitarian agencies and international NGOs to express their concern over this untenable situation, to the Secretary General of the UN, and to exert pressure on the Government of Israel to abide by International Law and to put an immediate end to its inhumane and illegal practices..

We also urge the Secretary General of the UN to intervene in holding Israel accountable and responsible to its endorsement of the Bertiny's report which explicitly calls for improved access of humanitarian services to the Palestinian people.