Al- Khudari: 80% of Gaza Factories Stopped Operating

Gaza, MINA – Head of the Popular Committee Against the Siege on Gaza Jamal al-Khudari on Monday said that Israel still bans the entry of 100% of the raw materials needed by Gaza factories to operate.

Al-Khudari said in a press statement that the economic situation in the Gaza Strip has reached a dead end in view of the ongoing blockade and the closure of Karam Abu Salem crossing for the 27th day in a row, PIC reported.

He noted that thousands of trucks have been denied entry into the costal enclave, which means that the goods they are carrying are threatened with damage and loss.

He added that about 80% of Gaza factories stopped operating and that the rest might join them soon in light of the tightened Israeli sanctions.

The Palestinian official affirmed that Israel is pursuing a collective punishment policy against the Gaza Strip by banning the entry of nearly 1000 items of basic and humanitarian goods into the enclave in a blatant violation of international law and the agreements signed with the Palestinian Authority.

Al-Khudari called on the international community to pressure Israel to backtrack on its punitive measures, and stressed that the situation in Gaza requires a quick and decisive international resolution that obliges Israel to lift the blockade and open all crossings closed since 2006.(R/R04/RS5)

Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)