Hamas Bans Israeli Clothes Import to Gaza

2011-02-13
Xinhua

Gaza's ruler Hamas on Sunday decided to ban importing clothes from Israel to the Gaza Strip until a further notice.

The ministry of economy of the Hamas government said that it would also draw up regulations and restrictions on the imports of other products to protect domestic industry.

Ibrahim Jaber, an official from the ministry, said that all Israeli products that have a local substitute would be banned, which include furniture, plastics, soft drinks and a variety of food products.

In June 2010, Israel relaxed its blockade on Gaza to calm down global criticism of its deadly attack on a humanitarian aid flotilla, which killed nine activists.

Earlier, a Hamas official said that his movement prefers to trade with Arab countries through Egypt instead of Israel.

Source: CRIEnglish.
Link: http://english.cri.cn/6966/2011/02/13/2681s620496.htm.