The Automobile Importers Association in Gaza said Thursday that Israel has stopped car importing to the besieged coastal enclave, the Middle East Monitor reported citing Anadolu Agency.

According to the Association, 88 vehicles were left stationed at the Israeli checkpoint of Eriz (Beit Hanoun) scheduled to enter Gaza after the Jewish holidays, but the PA-run Ministry of Transport and Communications in Ramallah had confirmed they won’t be allowed to pass through.

“We initially thought that the cars were not ready to enter due to security checks, but after an inquiry from the Ministry of Transport and Communications in Ramallah, they confirmed that the entry was stopped without mentioning the reasons,” the statement added.

The Association stated that Israel holds about “300 cars in Israeli ports, and forces Palestinian traders to pay fees for storing them there, which leads to additional financial burdens.”
The Association called upon the relevant authorities to uphold their responsibilities and allow cars to pass through in order to avoid further trade losses caused by the decision.