According to Palestine Press Agency, today is the first day of Gaza exporting strawberries and cherry tomatoes to the European market for the season.
Some of the goods, which will be sent through the Kerem Shalom crossing, will be using a Palestinian Arab company - "Harvest Export" to handle all the export paperwork and logistics. As far as I know, up until now the Gaza crops have all gone through Israeli exporters.
Interestingly, the Harvest website notes with pride that "Palestinian farmers learn from long-term relationships with their Israeli counterparts in the use of modern agricultural techniques and methods."
The export season was supposed to start two weeks ago - but Islamic Jihad decided to shoot mortars to the Kerem Shalom crossing, forcing it to be closed, despite Israeli efforts to keep humanitarian aid flowing.
Gaza farm officials estimate that they lost some half a million shekels because of the fighting, selling strawberries internally for 5 shekels/kg instead of getting 25 shekels/kg in Europe.
Maybe they can sue Islamic Jihad for their shortfall? Certainly the judicial system in Gaza will treat them fairly, no?
