The head of the People´s Committee to Confront the Siege in the Gaza Strip, Jamal Al-Khoudari, said today, Friday, that "the Israeli occupation prevents the entry of goods to the private sector in Gaza, amounting to more than $100 million."
In a press statement, Al-Khudari pointed out that “these goods are being held in Israeli ports and warehouses, while the Kerem Shalom crossing continues to be closed almost completely for about two months.”
He added, “These goods come to the industrial, commercial and agricultural sectors legally and officially, with official import permits, and through Israeli ports, and after customs clearance and leaving the ports, they are prevented from entering through the crossing for no reason other than more pressure on the economic sector.”
Al-Khudari considered this a severe blow to the national economy in the Gaza Strip, and it greatly affects all aspects of life, noting that more than 90 percent of factories are closed, and 10 percent are working less than usual.
The head of the People´s Committee to Confront the Siege stressed that these measures and the continued closure of the only commercial crossing have repercussions on the high rates of unemployment and poverty that are already high due to the blockade, and the overall economic life.
Al-Khudari reiterated the need to remove the situation of opening the crossings from any political or security equation, as it is an important entry point for lifting the Israeli siege.
