Israeli-Egyptian Siege of Gaza Strip Increases People's Suffering, Disrupts Infrastructure Projects


Rafah Gate between Egypt and Gaza Strip	Jamal Al-Khudari

Al-Khudari: Tightening Gaza siege disrupts dozens of projects

11/11/2013 - 05:33 PM ]

GAZA, (PIC)--

MP Jamal Al-Khudari, the head of the popular committee against the siege, has confirmed that tightening the Israeli-Egyptian siege of Gaza Strip has affected business sector in the strip and disrupted dozens of projects, which led to an increase in the unemployment rate.

MP Al-Khudari said that most construction companies in the Gaza Strip have stopped working due to construction materials shortage, pointing that thousands of workers became unemployed due to the Israeli unfair siege imposed for 7 years.

International institutions have stopped more than 30 projects worth $100 million in the Gaza strip, while Arab, Palestinian, and private institutions have stopped several projects worth $100 million, mostly infrastructure and health projects.

MP al-Khudari pointed out that Israeli authorities decreased since 20 days the number of daily truckloads allowed to enter the strip through Karm Abu Salem Crossing.

Several factories have been closed in the Gaza strip due to the economic crisis and power crisis that led to heavy losses to the private sector.

Siam: Gaza suffers under unprecedented harsh blockade

[ 11/11/2013 - 02:40 PM ]

GAZA, (PIC)--

The Secretary General of Council of Ministers, Abdul Salam Siam, stated that there are Egyptian efforts to ease the Gaza siege and to provide the Gaza Strip's needs, pointing out that Gaza suffers under unprecedented harsh blockade.

Siam pointed in a press release issued on Sunday that Gaza's suffering has deepened after targeting the tunnels that were used as an alternative to provide the besieged strip's needs.

The demolition of Gaza tunnels has deeply affected the main services in the Gaza Strip, including the power plant, transport, construction materials, medication and medical supplies, in addition to exports, led to tens of millions of dollars per day in losses, he said.

He confirmed that if there are alternative commercial crossings working according to international laws, there would be no need to tunnels.

The Palestinian government in Gaza Strip has made contacts with different parties to ease Gaza siege, he said, pointing out that there would be Qatari funding for the power plant, European financing to economic projects, and Turkish aid to hospitals and municipalities.

He affirmed that the Israeli occupation government became the sole controller to fuel entering after the Egyptian restrictions on Gaza tunnels.

Siam denied Israeli claims about lifting the siege on Gaza, confirming that hundreds of goods and construction materials are banned. The Karm Abu Salem, the only commercial crossing, is closed most of time under various pretexts, he added.

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