Israel has imposed a ban on fish and seafood export from the Gaza Strip to the West Bank.
The Israeli newspaper Haaretz on Thursday claimed that the ban came following a smuggling attempt of 20 tons of fish from the West Bank into 1948 Occupied Palestine which could be “a health hazard.”
“The fishes are transferred from the West Bank to Israel without any veterinarian supervision and with no way to prevent low-quality fish being sold in Israel” the newspaper added.
It underlined that Israeli officials plan to investigate the matter adding that if the Gazan authorities and fishermen’s organization act to prevent smuggling and operate in keeping with health regulations the ban will be lifted.
The Israeli human rights group Gisha-Maslak labeled the Israeli authorities’ decision to halt sales from the Gaza Strip as “illegal” pointing out that this is the second time Israel has blocked fish sales since mid-August which inflicted a severe blow to the livelihoods of traders and fishermen in the Strip.
It added that Gazan fish merchants have recently asked the Palestinian agriculture ministry to let them export fish directly to 1948 Occupied Palestine pledging to adhere to all the requirements of veterinarian inspection. Their request was rejected.
Around 5000 fishermen work in the Gaza Strip and their livelihoods are dependent on fishing.
