Access restricted areas in Gaza: civilians at risk
The Access Restricted Areas (ARA) are no-go zones within the Gazan territory, enforced by Israeli Security Forces (ISF) along the border fence and at sea and justified by citing security concerns. Practically, it means that Israeli soldiers are permanently posted along the fence or at sea and they can shoot in the ARA, where thousands of farmers and fishermen yet still need to go and work there since their livelihood and that of their families depend on it. Thus 178 000 Palestinians (9% of Gaza population) are directly affected by ARA on land and at sea
