GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Enchanting lights and all sorts of food adorn Gaza’s markets as Ramadan begins. This year’s decorations are far more alluring than those of the previous years since the 2014 Israeli war on Gaza, and merchants expect at least a slight improvement in the markets this season.

Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman approved changes to the Kerem Shalom crossing — the only commercial crossing for Gazans — June 3 that included extending its hours of operation. Many traders and importers Al-Monitor interviewed agreed that the quantity of goods popular during Ramadan such as dates, cheese and other products has slightly increased as a result.

Mohammed al-Balawi, a partner in al-Balawi Company for Dates Importing in central Gaza City, told Al-Monitor that the quantities of dates that have entered Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing in the southern Gaza Strip meets the needs of the Gazan market, which consumes more than 800 tons of dates during Ramadan.

Balawi said that larger quantities of various types of premium dates have entered Gaza this year compared to the years since the 2014 war, in particular the Medjool type. Notably, Israel controls the types and quantities of dates that are brought into Gaza per the Paris Economic Protocol, which states that the importation of consumer goods shall be done in accordance with the Palestinian and Israeli estimates.