Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights has condemned on Thursday the Israeli forces' tightening siege on the Gaza Strip and the closure of the "Kerem Shalom" commercial crossing, the only one designated for transporting goods to and from the Gaza Strip, in addition to reducing the fishing area.

In a statement, a copy of which obtained by Safa Press Agency on Thursday morning, Al-Mezan has considered that the such steps are devoted to the crime of collective punishment, warning of the repercussions of the decision on the humanitarian situation that is heading towards further deterioration.

The Center has expressed its strong condemnation of the continuation and escalation of the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip for the fourteenth year in a row.

It also denounce the international community’s continued tolerance of collective punishments against the population in the Gaza Strip, in a blatant breakdown of its legal obligations declared by international humanitarian law, especially the Fourth Geneva Convention.

Al-Mezan has called on the international community to take urgent, effective and immediate action to stop the Israeli escalation, lift the siege on Gaza, and prohibit the politicization of humanitarian issues and the use of humanitarian needs for political blackmail

In addition, the Israeli authorities announced yesterday that they will reduce the fishing area from 15 to 8 nautical miles.

As a result, the Israeli gunboats opened fire towards the fishermen's boats at sea, and issued orders to the fishermen through loudspeakers to retreat to 8 nautical miles.

The authorities also announced at Thursday dawn a ban on the entry of fuel into the Gaza Strip.

The Israeli forces announced on Monday their decision to close the Kerem Shalom commercial crossing, with the exception of basic humanitarian supplies and fuel.

The Palestinians of Gaza suffer from the Israeli violations that have continued since October 2000, most notably the Israeli siege that the authorities tightened in 2007, and the continued air, land and sea attacks.