Tel Aviv - Israel has allowed the export of several truckloads of flowers and strawberries from the Gaza Strip over the last two days, a Palestinian trade group and Israeli officials said Thursday. Some 23 tons of strawberries and 800,000 cut flowers were allowed out of the impoverished enclave via the Kerem Shalom Crossing with Israel, the Palestinian Trade Centre (Paltrade) reported. Much of the fresh products will be sent to Europe.
An Israeli Defence Ministry official said that another load would likely be exported next week but could not confirm whether other exports beyond these are planned.
Israel said last week, ahead of the Annapolis conference on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which took place on Tuesday, that it would allow the exports as a goodwill gesture.
The Palestinian cash crop export season began on November 15, but Paltrade said that due to the closures imposed on Gaza since the Islamic movement Hamas seized control over the enclave in June, these were the first truckloads allowed out.
Only basic supplies are imported into the strip, and few exports have left since June.
The Israeli cabinet declared Gaza an "enemy entity" in September, due to continued rocket fire from the strip toward southern Israel.
Exports of flowers and strawberries to the European Union in normal years brings in approximately 25 million US dollars annually.
