Ministry of Economy: The occupation closes Palestine's commercial and humanitarian artery

SadaNews - The Ministry of National Economy stated that the decision by the occupation government to close the King Hussein Bridge (Al-Karama Crossing) yesterday until further notice is arbitrary and will have serious repercussions on the economic, social, and humanitarian reality in Palestine.

The ministry explained in a statement that Al-Karama Crossing is the main and only outlet for Palestine, through which Palestinian products are exported to the world and raw materials and goods are imported into the State of Palestine. The continued closure of this crossing will have severe consequences for Palestinian industries, agricultural products, food security, as well as export and import activities, in addition to significant humanitarian impacts and individual mobility. It pointed out that this closure causes a halt to a large part of the humanitarian aid that is brought into our people in the Gaza Strip.

It added that this arbitrary measure is part of the occupation state's policies to tighten restrictions on the Palestinian people and create an environment that pushes our people away, within the framework of political blackmail and punitive policies, including the detention of Palestinian clearance funds, in addition to the crisis of the accumulation of the Israeli shekel, and the refusal of the Israeli side to accept its currency that is pumped into the Palestinian market, which has directly affected international trade movements. Similarly, the Israeli occupation army and settler gangs are tightening their grip on the West Bank through 1,200 checkpoints and iron gates, which have restricted freedom of movement between Palestinian governorates and harmed various economic sectors.

The ministry continued: The Palestinian government and the Ministry of National Economy are in constant contact with the international community and related brotherly and friendly countries to work on opening this crossing as soon as possible and to pressure the Israeli side to open Al-Karama Crossing – King Hussein Bridge and restore the normal situation of passenger movement and trade to what it was before the aggression against our Palestinian people.