45% drop in exits of Gazan traders via Erez

November saw a 45 per cent drop in the number of exits of Gazan traders via the Israeli-controlled Erez crossing, according to Israeli NGO Gisha.

The fall is in comparison to the monthly average during the first six months of 2016.

Overall, reports the NGO, there was a 35 per cent decrease in exits during November (9,239 exits) compared to the monthly average for the first six months of 2016 (14,100 exits).

The total number of exits in November was also lower than July-September as was the daily average number of exits.

According to Gisha, the continued trend of “security blocks” appears to be reflected in November’s daily average of exits, which stood at 355, constituting a 12 per cent decrease compared to October and a 17 per cent decrease compared to September.

The NGO described it as “the lowest daily average of every month since the beginning of the year.”

The Rafah crossing, meanwhile, was open for nine days over the course of November. Exit was allowed on seven of these days, during which 2,654 exits from Gaza were recorded at the crossing and 1,519 entries into Gaza from Egypt.