Gaza Farmers Lament Israeli Blockade
Despite Israel allowing limited agricultural exports from the Gaza Strip, Gazan farmers continue to struggle with diminished incomes and difficult working conditions due to the blockade, reports Hazem Balousha.
Zachary Hijazi stood before his farmland in the town of Rafah with a quizzical expression on his face. He was wondering whether Israel would continue with its closure of the Karam Abu Salem (Kerem Shalom) commercial crossing, which would adversely affect the export of flowers from Gaza to Europe.
On Feb. 26, Israeli authorities had closed the Karam Abu Salem crossing, which normally operates five days a week, after a rocket was fired from the Gaza Strip into the Israeli city of Ashkelon. The crossing had been scheduled to reopen on Monday, March 4.
