GAZA: In recent days, the Israeli authorities have eased some of the restrictions, including the opening of the only commercial crossing Kerem Shalom in the Gaza Strip. But the Palestinians in the enclave demand more.
An Egyptian-brokered cease-fire on May 21 ended the military escalation between the Palestinian armed factions and the Israeli army that kicked off on May 10.
But Israel had kept the crossings closed for several more weeks, using it as a bargaining chip to put pressure on Hamas and force the group to hand over the Israeli soldiers believed to be held in the strip.
The ban has burdened the Palestinians, especially after several production factories and construction operations stopped.
Al-Yazji Soft Drinks Company was one of them. Unable to import raw materials, the company had to close for the first time since its establishment some 60 years ago. Hammam al-Yazji, director of the company’s development department, told Xinhua that about 250 workers temporarily lost their jobs due to the Israeli restrictions imposed on the crossing and expressed his fear that the ban would continue to be in place for a long time. “We hope that this crisis will end soon, so that we can reopen our factory and let our workers who rely on this job to come back,” he added. The construction sector has experienced difficulties too, due to the fact that many building materials such as cement and iron are still banned from entering the coastal enclave.
Mohammed Obaid, a construction worker from Shujaiya neighborhood, east of Gaza City, told Xinhua that he joined thousands of unemployed construction workers who had lost their jobs due to the restrictions.
“Most of the workers, including me, are the only breadwinners for our families, but we have not earned anything for more than 46 days,” the 49-year-old father of six said with a breaking voice.
“All these restrictions were imposed because of political reasons, but we (the civilians) pay the cost as our economic situation continues to deteriorate,” the man said, while he was listening to the news on the radio.
He expressed his hope the crisis will end soon and all the conflicting parties will reach a political agreement through international and Arab mediation.
He added that most people in the strip need to work to support their families and children, who suffer greatly from the restrictions.
Muhammad Abu Ryala, a fisherman from Gaza City, expressed his happiness at the expanding of the fishing area from six to nine nautical miles, allowing thousands to go back to work.
“It is better than nothing, especially since we have been prevented from fishing for long weeks without any other source of income to keep afloat our poor families,” the 48-year-old father of 10 told media. “We hope that the Palestinian factions will reach a comprehensive agreement with Israel through UN mediation that will end all Israeli restrictions on the residents of the Gaza Strip, and allow the economy to go back to normal,” he added.
The head of the General Federation of Palestinian Trade Unions, Sami al-Amassi, warned that the continued closure of the Israeli crossings with the Gaza Strip would lead to a major humanitarian disaster, disruption of factories and layoff of workers.
Al-Amassi told media that the closure of the crossings prevented the entry of raw materials needed for industry, forcing hundreds of factories to work part-time, which affected the income of thousands of workers and worsened the situation of their families. – Agencies
