Gaza renews taxi fleet to dismay of old cab drivers

For the first time in nine years, Israel has allowed the entry of new taxi cars into Gaza, a decision that appealed to Gazans but was met with criticism by the owners of old and dilapidated cars, who fear that the new cars will put them out of business.
A Palestinian taxi driver sits in his damaged car as he waits for passengers in Gaza City September 22, 2014. An open-ended ceasefire between Israel and Hamas-led Gaza militants, mediated by Egypt, took effect on August 26 after a seven-week conflict. It called for an indefinite halt to hostilities, the immediate opening of Gaza's blockaded crossings with Israel and Egypt, and a widening of the territory's fishing zone in the Mediterranean. REUTERS/Mohammed Salem (GAZA - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST) - RTR47
A Palestinian taxi driver sits in his damaged car as he waits for passengers in Gaza City, Sept. 22, 2014. - REUTERS/Mohammed Salem
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Ahmad Abu Amer
@ahmedmajd1
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GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — For the first time in nine years, Israeli authorities allowed the entry of new taxis into the Gaza Strip on April 13. After Hamas won the legislative elections in June 2006 and came to power, Israel imposed an embargo on taxis as part of a tight blockade restricting a wide range of goods.

Six out of 36 Skoda 2002-model taxis have already entered Gaza while the rest will follow once their registration papers are completed. The entry via the Kerem Shalom crossing in southern Gaza is being coordinated with the Palestinian ministries of transportation in the West Bank and Gaza.

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