Israel bans Gaza from importing donkeys
Gaza is banned from importing donkeys after an Israeli NGO claimed they are transported to China for the skin and meat industries.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Livestock trader Hani Alnadi was waiting for 50 donkeys last April from Israel when Israeli authorities unexpectedly banned him from importing them.
“They told me Gazan livestock traders were not allowed to import donkeys. I was shocked. I still can’t import them; my [import] permit to enter Israel expired, and I can’t renew it to date without any obvious reasons,” Alnadi said while feeding cows. He trades cows, sheep and donkeys he imports from Israel to sell them in Gaza. He said Gaza imported 500 donkeys last year.
According to local traders, the ban went into effect in December 2021 after an Israeli nongovernmental organization claimed that donkeys were transported from Israel to Gaza to China through Egypt to benefit the skin and meat industries.
There has been no official announcement of the ban, however, it seems to be an ongoing practice as traders are still unable to import donkeys.
