Israel has resumed shipments of produce to Gaza, according to the Israeli Agricultural Association, which explained in a statement Sunday that produce shipped to the region will gradually increase as long as quiet prevails in southern Israel.
Israel and Hamas both began a renewed, albeit fragile, ceasefire, one week ago.
As of now, the Ministry of Defense has permitted the transfer of ten trucks of produce a day carrying 200 tons of bananas, persimmons, and apples. Produce growers hope that the shipments will increase soon to 15 trucks.
The CEO of the Fruit Growers Association, Ilan Eshel, explained that the situation is good for Gaza and good for farmers. Sending fruit to Gaza reduces pressure on the local Israeli market and also helps meet Gazans’ need for basic foodstuffs, he said.
Eshel added that the Ministry of Agriculture worked to insure that fruit might be shipped to Gaza as soon as the security situation permitted.
Journalists and humanitarian workers also were allowed free access into Gaza over the weekend for the first time since Operation Cast Lead began on December 27, as Israel opened its pedestrian crossing into the region.
Gaza fishermen resumed sailing out for the day’s catch, and market vendors set up their wares in Gaza City. The residents have thus begun returning to their daily routine after three weeks of shelling by Israeli war planes and IDF ground forces - prompted by the more than 10,000 rocket attacks launched by Gaza terrorists at Israeli civilians over an eight-year span.
After diplomatic initiatives repeatedly failed, the government finally approved an attack on the terrorists, known as Operation Cast Lead, determined to put a halt to the endless assaults on civilian life in southern Israel.
Until the 2005 Disengagement from Gaza, the Gush Katif region also served as home to one of the largest Jewish producers of "mehadrin" kosher quality vegetables both for domestic consumption and export.