Why Israeli watermelons are making headlines in Gaza
As local watermelon supplies dwindle, the Ministry of Agriculture in Gaza has allowed the import of watermelons from Israel and lifted an eight-year ban to cover the daily consumption of nearly 600 tons.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — On June 21, the Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture in the Gaza Strip lifted an eight-year ban on watermelon imports from Israel. The Palestinian government formed by Hamas in March 2006 had banned the import of watermelons to Gaza from Israel and limited consumption to local production. Gaza’s annual watermelon crop hovers around 36,000 tons, which covers Gaza’s needs during the two-month summer season when the market registers a daily consumption of about 600 tons.
The Ministry of Agriculture in Gaza justified its import decision citing the rise of local crop prices due to the greed of some merchants and farmers. The price per kilo (2.2 pounds) reached up to 2 Israeli shekels (roughly $0.50), which is high compared to the price of watermelons during the same period in 2015.
