(4 Feb 2014) Farmers in the Gaza Strip have started exporting herbs to Europe and America, a small economic success story amid the ongoing Israeli blockade.
At Jamal Abu Naja's farm near the Gazan village of al-Qarara, gloved workers prepared a shipment of mint and chives to Russia this week.
Israel bars virtually all exports from the blockaded territory, as part of its policies against Gaza's ruling Islamic militant group Hamas, but makes an exception for some fresh produce.
And Gaza's farmers have been discovering that medicinal herbs like mint, basil and coriander serve as a remedy for some of their economic woes.
Traditionally, farmers in Gaza have exported strawberries and carnations, though the cost of growing water-intensive crops and transporting them hundreds of kilometres (miles) to Europe has cut deeply into their profits.
Some now say growing fresh herbs and spices in greenhouses makes more sense economically.
They require less water, grow more quickly, cost less to ship, and are always in high demand.
"So far we've exported around 30 tons to Europe," said farmer Jamal Abu Naja.
"After we managed to get into the European market, we went to the American market. We've been working with them since June 2013, and so far we've exported around 20 tons of herbs to America."
This may sound like a lot, but neighbouring Israel has exported an average of 10-thousand tons of herbs per year to date, and Palestinians in the West Bank have exported an annual average of two-thousand tons.
But Gaza's share may be set to increase, especially as a number of major supermarket chains across Europe have stopped buying produce from Israeli settlements.
"The Palestinian farmers in Gaza and the West Bank should create alternative products for the Europeans that want to boycott Israeli products," said Abu Naja.
"Without a Palestinian product that can replace the Israeli product, a boycott won't succeed."
However, he also said some European customers are reluctant to sign long-term contracts with the Gaza growers because of uncertainty at the border.
Last April, he was forced to burn three tons of basil and mint intended for export, losing an estimated 15-thousand US dollars because of a prolonged closure of Israel's Kerem Shalom crossing.
Recently, Israel has slightly eased the blockade it imposed on Gaza after the Hamas takeover in 2007, but routinely closes its only cargo crossing with the territory - its only export route - whenever Gaza militants fire rockets toward Israel.
Israeli officials say the crossing is only ever closed for security reasons, and that Israel has been supporting the Gaza farmers, including by arranging training for the herb growers.
But even if there are opportunities to export herbs to Europe and America, Israel's export policies do not allow export to Israel and the West Bank, Gaza's main market in the past.
Israel has cited security reasons for its export restrictions.
Critics note that once goods have undergone stringent security checks, there is little logic in allowing them to be exported to some destinations, but not others.
However, there is no argument that herbs have emerged as a profitable crop, and Abu Naja hopes future policies will ease export restrictions, as he looks to grow more crops such as broccoli and ginger.
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