Israeli fruit growers destroyed over 120 tons of bananas and 40 tons of apricots earmarked for sale in the Gaza Strip. About 15% of all Israeli fruit is sold in Gaza
The Israel Customs Authority directed last week all importers and local traders, who do business with Gaza, to stop transferring all goods to the Karni border crossing immediately.
Due to the decision, Israeli fruit growers destroyed over 120 tons of bananas and 40 tons of apricots earmarked for sale in the Gaza Strip. It was also made known last week that some 93 large trucks filled with plums, apricots and bananas turned back to Israel after waiting unsuccessfully for the crossings to open. This produce was later sold in the Israeli local markets for lower prices and some were sent the West Bank markets.
The head of the Israel Fruit Growers association, Ilan Eshel, said in a press release that the closure of the Gaza Strip to Israeli fruits had led to a severe drop in prices within Israel.
Growers have suffered NIS 20 million in direct damages so far, said Eshel, and this amount is growing daily by millions.
Eshel called on the cabinet to allow fruits and vegetables, like fuel, water and electricity, to enter Gaza. Otherwise, without a quick solution, fruit growers are likely to collapse financially, he added.
About 15% of all Israeli fruit is sold in Gaza. At the start of summer, 550 tons of fruit were sold every day, and this figure climbs to 1,000 tons a day during peak season.
