Israeli-Gazan commerce renewed as IDF troops withdraw

By HERB KEINON
On the same day IDF soldiers began leaving the Gaza Strip on Sunday, bananas and tomatoes started to move in - not as humanitarian aid, but as business exchanges between Gazan merchants and the Israel fruit and vegetable boards. Foreign Ministry officials said that ten truckloads of Israeli-grown fruits and vegetables went through the Kerem Shalom crossing on Sunday to be sold in Gaza, the first renewal of Israeli-Gazan commerce since the start of Operation Cast Lead three weeks ago. Additional shipments of hundreds of tons are scheduled for Monday and Tuesday, the officials said. According to the officials, the humanitarian aid into Gaza includes dry foodstuff and medicine, but not fruits and vegetables. The Gazan merchants did not want to be identified for fear of being harmed, they said.