By Kathryn Maureen Ryan
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

GAZA CITY, Palestine – The politics of the Israeli-Palestinian crises has prevented an athlete who has represented his country at more than 40 international contents, including the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, from competing in one of his home countries largest running events.

Nader al-Masri began competing as a long distance runner in 1999, he first competed at an international level in Belfast, Northern Ireland and went on to compete in more than 40 international competitions across Europe, Asia and the Arab World. He represented Palestine at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics, where he ran 5,000 meters in 14 minutes, 41 seconds. He has won two marathons in his home country, both in Gaza, where he has competed in marathons spanning the coastline of the Gaza Strip. However, as a result of political tensions he has been unable to compete in races in the West Bank.

The Israel government has barred 30 runners, including Nader al-Masri, from leaving the Gaza Strip to participate in The Palestine Marathon in Bethlehem, Palestinian officials said last Tuesday. The decision highlights the real life effects of Israel’s tight restriction on Palestinian travel in and out of the Gaza territory.

Human rights activist argue these restrictions on travel amount to collective punishment, punishing to people of Gaza for the actions of the Hamas organizations, which controls the coastal strip. Some further criticizes the restrictions claiming travel bans are an attempt to sever ties between Gaza and the West Bank, both territories are claimed by Palestinian to be a part of the emerging Palestinian state.

The Egyptian govern has also restricted Palestinian travel from Gaza to Egypt, which share a common border since Hamas took power in the territory in 2007. These restrictions have led to a virtual halt of all exports in and out of Gaza, including much needed fuel for electricity, and has left most of the territories 1.7 million residence unable to travel abroad or visit the rest of Palestine.

The Palestinian Olympic Committee said it had requested that the Israel Government issues travel permits for the 30 runners so that they could leave Gaza and attend the second annual international marathon in the West Bank town of Bethlehem on Friday. Itidal al-Mugrabi, a senior official in the committee, said all requests were denied last month. She said the Bethlehem event, which also included shorter races, was expected to draw some 700 runners from Europe in addition to Palestinian athletes.

After being denied a permit allowing home to leave Gaza, Masri approached the Israeli rights group Gisha, which appealed the decision to Israel’s Supreme Court.

The judges ruled Tuesday that they could not intervene in the defense minister’s policy considerations, but suggested the military should consider more exemptions from the travel ban, including exemptions for athletes.

Masri said of the decision; “I’m very sad because I couldn’t take part in this race.” He added, “I want everyone to know that I’ve represented Palestine in over 50 events and I don’t know why the Israelis refused to allow me to take part. So many foreigners and Arabs are taking part in it.”

The Palestine Marathon went forward and was held under the banner “Right to Movement” in order to highlight obstacles to freedom of movement placed on Palestine living in the occupied territories by the Israeli government. More than 3,000 Athletes took part in the event.

The travel restrictions continue to have a devastating effect on the day to day lives of Palestinians, not only have the bans created shortages of basic supplies and utilities but the bans have prevented Palestinian from visiting friends and family living outside of Gaza or from participating in events located outside of the territory. In addition to the recent bans on athletes leaving the Gaza Strip 36 young musicians who requested to leave Gaza for a weeklong music competition in the West Bank and in east Jerusalem were permission to leave Gaza, organizers said.

For more information please see:

Al Jazeera – Nader Al-Masri, the Missing Palestinian – 11 April 2014

Al Jazeera – Thousands Take Part in Palestine Marathon – 11 April 2014

International Middle East Media Center – Thousands Run the Palestine Marathon in Bethlehem – 11 April 2014

The New York Times – Mideast Tensions Sideline a Gazan Marathon Runner – 10 April 2014

CCTV News – Israel stops Olympic runner from leaving Gaza ahead of West Bank marathon – 08 April 2014

The Washington Post – Israel bars Palestinian Olympian from leaving Gaza – 08 April 2014