It was reported that 17 factories resumed operations this year and that a total of 177 factories operate in the Gaza Strip.
By United With Israel StaffÂ
Gazan garment exports to Israel reportedly are flourishing.
“Sales to the Israeli market and to Judea and Samaria totaled $3 million during the first six months of the year,” according to Tayseer Al-Ostath, head of the Gaza Textile and Garments Union. He made the disclosure to the Hamas-affiliated newspaper Felesteen, Arutz Sheva reported.
Al-Ostath is said to have told the Palestinian newspaper that he is trying to take advantage of a state of relative calm between Hamas, which rules the Gaza Strip, and Israel to encourage greater business over the border with the Jewish State. Through the reported mediation of Egypt, Hamas pledged to reduce violence aimed at Israel while Israeli authorities have taken such measures as expanding the fishing zone off the Gazan coast.
The garment business appears to have especially benefitted recently from the improved business trade environment. Some “400 new workers were added to the garment and clothing manufacturing sector” with about 6,000 people currently employed in the sector, according to the report.
“In addition, it was reported that 17 factories resumed operations this year and that a total of 177 factories operate in the Gaza Strip,” according to Arutz Sheva.
On the other hand, Hamas periodically stops the import of Israeli goods into Gaza, says Arutz Sheva, adding that the Palestinian Authority (PA), which rules the Palestinian areas in Judea and Samaria, stops Israeli imports on a regular basis.