The Gaza Ministry of Agriculture is threatening Israeli authorities with sanctions if the country continues to block fresh fruit and vegetables bound for the West Bank and Jordan. 

The latest clash comes after an incident on Sunday (Nov. 23) when 12 trucks carrying 135 metric tons (MT) of fruit and vegetables with a value of €120,000 (US$149,000) were refused travel through the Kerem Shalom crossing.

According to a Gaza’s MoA statement, the lorries were en route from Gaza and two of the loads were supposed to be bound for market in Jordan.

The statement adds that it would ban fresh produce from Israel into the Gaza Strip if Israel continued to obstruct Gaza-grown produce into the West Bank and Jordan.

The incident is part of the continuing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Islamic organization Hamas. According to Israeli press, the Jewish state controls two of the small coastal territory's three crossings, Kerem Shalom in the south and the Erez crossing in the north. Egypt controls the thirds crossing at Rafah.

Israeli authorities claim the blockade is in place to stop Hamas importing weaponry.

On August 26, an Israeli-Hamas ceasefire was announced following weeks of bloody conflicts which resulted in bombings, death and injury on both sides.

Since that time, Israel has been urged to ease its blockade of the border crossings it controls so fresh produce can be transported as well as vital aid from various international charity organizations.

According to reports, there is suspicion on the Israeli side that if they allow too much access at border controls, Hamas will abuse the ease of restrictions.

On Monday (Nov. 25), Gaza's MoA warned on its website ‘the decision of the occupation (Israel) disability [sic] marketing of Palestinian products from the Gaza Strip to the West Bank vegetable markets to Jordan, will inevitably lead to the ministry to take a decision to stop the introduction of fruit to the sector'.

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