GAZA, Feb 14 (Reuters) – Valentine’s Day is taken into account un-Islamic by lots of the 2.3 million Palestinians residing within the Gaza Strip and enterprise was slower than ordinary on Tuesday at these retailers promoting pink roses, fluffy hearts and teddy bears.
Wasim Abdu, proprietor of the Safeer El-Hub (Ambassador of Love) flower store in Gaza Metropolis, stated sporadic clashes with Israeli troops and the devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria had forged a shadow over celebrations.
“The individuals of Gaza love life and freedom and so they wish to have fun all events (however) the turnout is not as was anticipated or desired,” he instructed Reuters.
Unable to ship their blooms to Europe since 2017 due to Israeli export restrictions, farmers stated land in Gaza devoted to cultivating flowers had been slashed from 1,250 acres to only 4, with hundreds of employees laid off.
Citing safety issues about Gaza’s ruling Hamas Islamists, Israel and Egypt carefully management the enclave’s border. Whereas Hamas would not forestall Valentine’s Day commerce, some clerics have prior to now roamed the streets, urging individuals and retailer house owners to eschew what they deem a Western ceremony.
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Selecting up a bouquet of her favorite flowers, Palestinian Nehaya Jarada stated she was decided to benefit from the day however.
“I nonetheless need to have fun Valentine’s Day, regardless of the wars we stay via and the earthquake,” she stated.
Writing by Nidal Almughrabi; Modifying by Nick Macfie
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