EU-funded Gisha game highlights freedom of movement restrictions on Palestinians

Gisha - Legal Center for Freedom of Movement has released a game, helped with funding from the European Union that introduces players to the real world restrictions on freedom of movement between the West Bank and Gaza. The case of student Fatima Sharif, reported on earlier this week,highlights the impact on the lives of ordinary people; in her case, like many others, being refused the right to travel to attend university on the West Bank. Israel's approach to the movement of Palestinians is similar to the system of pass laws in Apartheid-era South Africa.

"Safe Passage", is the largest and most comprehensive new media project about human rights in Israel. It allows the user to experience interactively the restrictions on movement between the Gaza Strip and the West Bank and understand the grave consequences resulting from the separation of Gaza and the West Bank for people living in the two areas. "Safe Passage" makes innovative use of animation, Flash documents, video and a blog, and comprises a political and legal archive, including dozens of official documents that shed light on the military legislation and legal rulings since the 1990s, when Israel began imposing increasing restrictions on movement between the areas.

Users can choose one of three figures – a student, a businessman and a family man – to try to get to their chosen destinations. After each character's bureaucratic "adventures," the user can watch video clips and get to know the real people behind the characters. And most important - users can impact the situation, not only in the game but also on the ground, by addressing decision-makers. For those who don't want to play, it is also possible to watch the game as a movie.

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