Israeli forces encroach on Gaza territory, raze Gazans’ farmland

Israeli forces have reportedly leveled large areas of farmlands in the Gaza Strip after infiltrating the border fence between the besieged enclave and the occupied Palestinian territories.

Palestine’s official Wafa news agency reported on Monday that ten Israeli bulldozers and military vehicles advanced towards Shaja‘iya neighborhood, east of Gaza City, and razed a large tract of farmland along the border.

This comes as Israeli forces routinely level Palestinian-owned lands in the occupied territories to build settlements.

The Gaza Strip, home to some two million people, has been under a blockade imposed by Israel since June 2007.

In recent years, the enclave has been receiving its bare essentials through the Kerem Shalom crossing as well as two others, including one with Egypt, which is being strictly controlled by the government in Cairo.

The latest development comes as farmers, traders and exporters of agricultural crops have faced new restrictions imposed by Israel to export Palestinian agricultural crops.

Israeli closure of borders has led to huge damage in the agricultural sector of the Gaza Strip.

Palestinian farmers face serious economic impasse

Farmers, traders and exporters of agricultural crops held a demonstration in front of the United Nations headquarter in Gaza.

Palestinian farmers are facing serious financial losses due to the Israeli closure of borders. This is viewed in Gaza as part of a larger plan by Israel to destroy the Palestinian economy.

Israel has also launched three major wars on Gaza since 2008.

In the latest Israeli bombardment campaign, more than 250 Palestinians, including over 60 children, were killed in a time span of 11 days that began on May 10. The Gaza-based resistance movements retaliated. Well over 4,000 rockets were fired into the occupied territories, some reaching as far as Tel Aviv and even Haifa and Nazareth to the north.

The regime was eventually forced to announce a ceasefire, brokered by Egypt, which came into force in the early hours of May 21.

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