Gaza Farmers Lament Israeli Blockade
Despite Israel allowing limited agricultural exports from the Gaza Strip, Gazan farmers continue to struggle with diminished incomes and difficult working conditions due to the blockade, reports Hazem Balousha.
Zachary Hijazi stood before his farmland in the town of Rafah with a quizzical expression on his face. He was wondering whether Israel would continue with its closure of the Karam Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) commercial crossing, which would adversely affect the export of flowers from Gaza to Europe.
On Feb. 26, Israeli authorities had closed the Karam Abu Salem crossing, which normally operates five days a week, after a rocket was fired from the Gaza Strip into the Israeli city of Ashkelon. The crossing had been scheduled to reopen on Monday, March 4.
Over the past few years, Hijazi has reduced the area of land he cultivates. While he used to grow flowers over an area of 60 acres, producing more than 5 million flowers annually, he now farms 25 acres, producing approximately 2.5 million flowers a year. The sharp decline is due to Israel closing the crossing during high export seasons to prevent exports from leaving Gaza.
He said that the recent closure of the commercial crossing had resulted in a significant drop in the price of flowers, as the action came during high season, which usually brings increased demand for flowers in Europe because of International Women’s Day, on March 8.
