GAZA CITY (Ma'an) -- Gaza's Ministry of Economy said Sunday that it would allow the entry of Israeli products into the Gaza Strip for the first time in five years.
Imad al-Baz, assistant deputy of the ministry, said soft drinks, clothes, coffee, and other Israeli goods would be allowed into the Strip.
"The last war led to the destruction of thousands of factories, which affected the production power (in Gaza), and to fill that gap we decided to allow Zionist products in," al-Baz said.
"The war damaged the production ability of factories and the nature and quality of the product, because some raw materials are not allowed in" due to the blockade.
"We decided to allow (Israeli) products to enter so that the market is not hindered and so products are available," al-Baz added.
The Israeli-imposed siege on Gaza severely limits imports and exports and has led to frequent humanitarian crises for Palestinians in the Strip.
