GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — Mohammed al-Jaouni said he was recently surprised to be handed a divorce proceedings notification from the Mersal company, which began distributing court orders April 21 in place of Gaza judicial police.

On April 4, the Ministry of Justice in Gaza signed an agreement with Mersal, a Palestinian private distribution and logistics company, entrusting it with a task previously assumed by the judicial police.

The head of the High Judicial Council in Gaza, Mohammed Abed, said in an April 4 statement posted on the Justice Ministry’s website, “The aim of the agreement is to expedite judicial notification procedures and shorten litigation duration.” He added, “The failure to notify a litigant on time delays the litigation process. Judges would only start the proceedings after ascertaining all parties are duly notified.”

Jaouni told Al-Monitor that his wife had filed for divorce. He said he was surprised that a man wearing a jacket bearing a Mersal badge handed him the order. Jaouni added, “I signed the document stating that I received the order and paid 5 shekels ($1.38), while the fee [was lower] before.”