Customs agents: shutting down border crossing with Gaza affects us financially

Israeli Customs Authority instructed customs agents not to transfer commercial goods to Gaza. Imports from overseas have been stored in bonded warehouses nearby Ashdod port
 
In the aftermath of the Hamas takeover of Gaza, the Israel Customs Authority directed all importers who do business with Gaza to stop transferring all goods to the Karni border crossing immediately.
 
The significance of this order is the cessation of all imported items into the Gaza Strip. The Israeli Customs Authority instructed customs agents not to transfer commercial goods to Gaza, with the exception of products, defined as for humanitarian use only, in order to prevent an immediate humanitarian crisis.
 
The management of the customs authority explained that its decision is based on the fact that the main gateway for such items, Karni, has been closed until further notice. The decision will keep the goods from piling up at the border crossing. Since the issuance of the customs instructions, imports from overseas have been stored in bonded warehouses nearby the Ashdod port.
 
Mr. Shlomo Sharon chairman of the umbrella organization of the Israeli freight forwarders and customs clearing agents sent an urgent letter last week to Mr. Yarom Ariav, director general of the Ministry of Finance claiming that the decision to cut commercial ties did not take into account the direct and indirect financial implications on the Israeli customs clearing sector.
 
Sharon noted that the closure has increased the risk the companies are involved in, having to absorb large amount of unpaid freight bills as well as storage bills. Sharon also noted that the piling of Palestinian bound containers in bonded warehouses in Israel, had also created an acute shortage of storage space for the Israeli importing community.
 
Mr. Majdi Halil, director general of the Palestinian Shipper's Council sent a letter last week to all bodies concerned with handling Palestinian bound containers, indicating that: " Following the customs decision to stop clearing any containers that are destined to Gaza, we are requesting from you to inform your Agents, sub Agents, FF, Custom agents or members that the Palestinian importers will not and should not be liable to any demurrage cost, since the decision of blocking their containers is an Israelidecision”.
 
Halil added that: "This should include all shipments that are destined to Gaza and whether they are already customs cleared or are about to arrive to any Israeli port or the containers that are already in Gaza and are unable to leave."