Gaza produce rots at closed Israeli border
Gaza produce rots at closed Israeli border
Farmers in Gaza are unable to export produce to the West Bank, due to Israeli fears that farmland was contaminated by bombardment in July.
3 min read
Farmland in Gaza is increasingly uncultivatable [AFP]
Gazan produce destined for the West Bank is being left to rot at the Israeli border because of new customs controls, it has emerged.
Fears over Gaza's soil being contaminated as a result of the ordnance Israel used during its 51-day assault on the coastal strip in the summer have reportedly led to the new restrictions.
The regulations state that exported produce must be contained in airtight crates as it traverses Israeli territory to the occupied West Bank.
'Poisoned soil'
Israel has been accused by Nazir Wahidi, Gaza's agriculture minister, of using weapons that poison soil and water during its recent assault on the besieged territory. Agricultural experts have warned that the thousands of rockets, bombs and shells that have pummelled Gaza could have a devastating impact on the coastal strip's soil, affecting the productive capacity of farmland for years to come.
At a meeting at Beit Hanoun border on 22 October, Israeli customs officials demanded 20 Palestinian farmers and traders make a list of agricultural produce that is to leave Gaza.
This information would be used to make an inventory of foodstuffs banned for export.
"Israel has only imposed these export regulations for produce going to the West Bank, which include providing samples for testing in its labs and putting produce in closed crates with Gaza written in large letters and the date of production on them," Ahmad al-Shafai, chairman of the Gaza Agricultural Cooperative, told al-Araby al-Jadeed.
Disease and pests
He said that the reason given for the new regulations was that land in Gaza was infected with diseases and pests which could infect Israeli land during transportation.
Israel has put up traps on the border with Gaza, to prevent agricultural pests from entering Israel, he added.
Israel first allowed farmers in Gaza to ship produce to the West Bank in 2007.
Devastated farmland
In October, Israel forced trucks carrying seven tons of sweet potatoes and fresh dates en-route to the West Bank to return to Gaza, hours after authorities had given permission them to pass through Israeli territory.
Farmers in blockaded Gaza have been eager to ship out produce, but following the last Israeli assault, they have complained of a decrease in productivity of their land, especially in border areas which bore the brunt of the bombing.
"The ministry's ground inspection teams have reported many trees have died for no apparent reason," said Nizar al-Wahidi, deputy director of soil and irrigation at Palestine's agriculture ministry. "Crops have withered away."
There have also been an increase in the number of livestock born with genetic mutations following the last bombing of Gaza, veterinarians have said.
One of the obstacles Palestinian authorities face in their investigation into contaminated soil is that Israel refuses to reveal the chemicals used in explosives that have hit Gaza's farmland.
It is believed by many here that Israel used banned weapons that contain uranium and carcinogenic substances, infecting farmland and water for decades to come.
This article is an edited translation from our Arabic edition.
Fears over Gaza's soil being contaminated as a result of the ordnance Israel used during its 51-day assault on the coastal strip in the summer have reportedly led to the new restrictions.
The regulations state that exported produce must be contained in airtight crates as it traverses Israeli territory to the occupied West Bank.
'Poisoned soil'
Israel has been accused by Nazir Wahidi, Gaza's agriculture minister, of using weapons that poison soil and water during its recent assault on the besieged territory. Agricultural experts have warned that the thousands of rockets, bombs and shells that have pummelled Gaza could have a devastating impact on the coastal strip's soil, affecting the productive capacity of farmland for years to come.
At a meeting at Beit Hanoun border on 22 October, Israeli customs officials demanded 20 Palestinian farmers and traders make a list of agricultural produce that is to leave Gaza.
This information would be used to make an inventory of foodstuffs banned for export.
"Israel has only imposed these export regulations for produce going to the West Bank, which include providing samples for testing in its labs and putting produce in closed crates with Gaza written in large letters and the date of production on them," Ahmad al-Shafai, chairman of the Gaza Agricultural Cooperative, told al-Araby al-Jadeed.
Disease and pests
He said that the reason given for the new regulations was that land in Gaza was infected with diseases and pests which could infect Israeli land during transportation.
Israel has put up traps on the border with Gaza, to prevent agricultural pests from entering Israel, he added.
Israel first allowed farmers in Gaza to ship produce to the West Bank in 2007.
Devastated farmland
In October, Israel forced trucks carrying seven tons of sweet potatoes and fresh dates en-route to the West Bank to return to Gaza, hours after authorities had given permission them to pass through Israeli territory.
Farmers in blockaded Gaza have been eager to ship out produce, but following the last Israeli assault, they have complained of a decrease in productivity of their land, especially in border areas which bore the brunt of the bombing.
"The ministry's ground inspection teams have reported many trees have died for no apparent reason," said Nizar al-Wahidi, deputy director of soil and irrigation at Palestine's agriculture ministry. "Crops have withered away."
There have also been an increase in the number of livestock born with genetic mutations following the last bombing of Gaza, veterinarians have said.
One of the obstacles Palestinian authorities face in their investigation into contaminated soil is that Israel refuses to reveal the chemicals used in explosives that have hit Gaza's farmland.
It is believed by many here that Israel used banned weapons that contain uranium and carcinogenic substances, infecting farmland and water for decades to come.
This article is an edited translation from our Arabic edition.
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