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Update: Israel to import Gaza agricultural products first time in 7 years

Xinhua, March 6, 2015 Adjust font size:

For the first time since 2007, Israel will buy and market agricultural produce from farmers in the Gaza Strip, a statement from the Coordinator of the Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) announced Thursday.

The COGAT is the governmental body in charge of civilian coordination with Palestinian officials in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, territories Israel occupied following the 1967 Mideast War, and implementing the government's policy there.

According to the COGAT's statement, Israel will initially buy between 1,000 and 1,500 tons of vegetables, with each ton evaluated at around 3,000 shekels (750 U.S. dollars).

The move comes amid a Jewish tradition, known as Shmita year, currently taking place, in which religious Jewish farmers must halt most of their agricultural works. Shmita year takes place every seven years according to the Hebrew calendar, and is set to end in September.

The statement further said that the move is aimed at bettering the economic situation in the Gaza Strip, which suffered great damage with over 2,200 Palestinians killed and tens of thousands becoming homeless, following the 50-day war between Israel and Hamas in the Gaza Strip last summer.

"The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the defense echelon's policy is to support the rehabilitation of the Gaza Strip and its economy," COGAT chief Yoav Mordechai was quoted in the statement as saying.

"This move was taken to support the population and the Palestinian public in the Gaza Strip, while segregating Hamas, which is a terrorist entity holding back the rehabilitation of the strip and is taking advantage of its resources," Mordechai added.

Israel withdrew its soldiers and citizens from the Gaza Strip in 2005. Hamas, which Israel, the U.S., Egypt and several other countries deem a terrorist organization, took over the strip in 2007.

Since then, Israel had imposed a blockade on the Strip, controlling along with Egypt the passages of people and merchandise and limiting the territory Gaza fishermen can sail in the Mediterranean Sea. Imports from the Gaza Strip to Israel ceased in 2007.

Israel had recently took some initiatives to relax the restrictions on the Gaza Strip.

On Wednesday, Israel announced it would double the drinking water quota to the Gaza Strip, amid a spiraling water crisis. The annual water quantity would increase from 5 to 10 million cubes, the COGAT said.

Two weeks ago, Israel published a list of measures to ease restriction on the Palestinians in Gaza, including increasing the daily permits for Gaza merchants from 400 to 800, and 50 students would be able to travel and study in the West Bank. Endit