Exhibition in Gaza displays products denied by Israel

An exhibition was organized in Gaza Strip to showcase more than a thousand products forbidden to enter into the city by Israeli authorities.

The exhibition, organized by Popular Committee to End Gaza’s Siege, put on display various products varying from a wedding dress, feeding bottle to soap and nappy.

“The Israeli blockade made it impossible to meet even the most basic commodities,” Jamal al-Khodari, the committee head, told Anadolu Agency. “The exhibition aims to draw the world’s attention to the Israeli blockade,” he added.

Noting that Israel did not let feeding bottles, plastic materials, children’s swimming equipment, electronic devices, toys, wedding dresses, cosmetic products and basic building materials into Gaza, Hudari said that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza resulted in a financial collapse.

He stressed that the industrial sector in Gaza was about to die. “The Israeli blockade and prevention of the essential raw materials has led to the closure of 80 per cent of the factories in Gaza. This is another side of the policy Israel practices to suffocate Gaza and destroy the whole financial sector,” he said.

Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), the organization carrying out Israel’s activities on Palestinian lands, said only humanitarian needs are allowed to enter Gaza through one-by-one control mechanism.

“The reason for this decision is burning kites and balloons are sent to Israel from Gaza Strip. The humanitarian needs that are allowed to enter Gaza are food, medicine and medical supplies,” the statement by the COGAT said.

Closure of border crossing

Having closed the Kerm Ebu Salim border crossing in July, Israel banned the entrance of gas and fuel used in Palestinian homes last week.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on 9 July that Kerm Ebu Salim border crossing, the only way through which the commercial goods could enter Gaza, would be closed.

“We are implementing very strict measures against Hamas immediately. As an important step, Kerm Ebu Salim border crossing will be closed. There will be additional steps,” Netanyahu had said.

In addition, on 17 July, Israel decreased the fishery range across Gaza waters from nine miles to three.

As a result of the air, land and sea blockade that Israel imposed on Gaza Strip since 2006, about two million Palestinians suffer from a great humanitarian plight. The Gazans are deprived of basic human needs.

Identified as “the largest open-air prison in the world”, Gaza gets harmed due to the electricity problems. In addition, the infrastructure and health services have collapsed in Gaza, where the residents could only access electricity six hours a day.

Responding to the humanitarian crisis, Gazans have been rallying since 30 March to draw global attention to the issue.

However, more than 150 Palestinians were martyred by Israeli troops, in addition to the dozens of people confined to wheelchairs and crutches following deliberate Israeli sniper shots aiming at disabling Palestinians.