GAZA CITY: In the blockaded Gaza Strip, the Christmas season is giving a boost to a small women’s business that produces pandemic face masks decorated with holiday symbols.
The masks, decorated with images of Santa Claus, reindeer and Christmas trees, have found markets as far away as Europe. They also have provided a small lift to a Palestinian enclave run by the Islamic militant Hamas group and where the vast majority of residents are Muslim.
“We exported the first 200 masks two weeks ago to France, last week about 300 to Germany and from 300 to 400 masks will be sent to Britain in the coming days,” said Suhad Saidam, owner of the workshop.
It’s a rare success story in impoverished Gaza, where unemployment has reached around 50%, and exports are severely restricted by Israel.
Saidam, who has been sewing for 16 years, says she sends the masks to Palestinian companies in the West Bank that export the goods. To be allowed out from Gaza through Israel and to the West Bank, the embroideries must be made of cloths and fabrics only. Decorated electronics, like watches, are forbidden, she said.
Israel, with Egypt’s help, imposed the blockade on Gaza in 2007 to isolate Hamas. Both countries cite security concerns and fear of arms smuggling to Hamas in justifying the restrictions.
The Christian population in Gaza, home to some 2 million people, has dwindled to about 1,000 as members of the tiny community have steadily emigrated. However, Christmas decorations can be widely seen on store fronts and at restaurants across the Gaza Strip.
Saidam, 43, opened the workshop in 2017 with support from Care International humanitarian agency under a program for breast cancer survivors like herself.
Saidam outsources the work to about 40 women, most of them suffering from cancer, to do the work at home “for a good income.” The Christmas-themed masks are sold for 15 to 20 shekels ($4 to $6). In Gaza, a typical daily wage is about 30 shekels ($9).
Wafa Tarifi, a resident of the West Bank city of Ramallah, learned of the masks from a Facebook page and was pleased when she saw them at a bazaar in Ramallah. “I bought some of them for my children’s Christian teachers and they liked it so much,” she said.
As COVID-19 vaccines are rolled out throughout the world, there might not be great demand for masks next year, but Saidam says she will continue to introduce traditional stitching for other occasions and events.
“We thought beyond the concept that hand-stitching is exclusive to the traditional Palestinian gowns,” she said.
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Christmas opens new market for small Gaza sewing business
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Christmas opens new market for small Gaza sewing business
- The masks, decorated with images of Santa Claus, reindeer and Christmas trees, have found markets as far away as Europe
- It’s a rare success story in impoverished Gaza, where unemployment has reached around 50%
Israel warns will suspend several aid groups from Gaza
- Ministry says organizations that failed to submit list of Palestinian employees have been told their licenses will be revoked from January 1
JERUSALEM: Israel warned on Tuesday that it would suspend from January several aid organizations operating in Gaza for failing to provide details about their Palestinian staff, accusing two Doctors Without Borders employees of links to militant groups.
The Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism said in a statement the move was part of Israel’s decision to “strengthen and update” regulations governing the activities of international NGOs in the Palestinian territory.
“Humanitarian organizations that fail to meet security and transparency requirements will have their licenses suspended,” the ministry said.
It added that organizations which “failed to cooperate and refused to submit a list of their Palestinian employees in order to rule out any links to terrorism” had received formal notice that their licenses would be revoked as of January 1.
The organizations concerned — whose names were not disclosed — were ordered to cease all activities by March 1.
The ministry said the groups were given 10 months to provide the requested information but “nonetheless failed to comply with the requirements.”
The ministry told AFP earlier this month that as of November 25, approximately 100 registration requests had been submitted and “only 14 organization requests have been rejected.”
“The remainder have been approved or are currently under review,” it added.
In its statement on Tuesday, the ministry alleged after an investigation that the international medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) had employed two individuals with links to Palestinian militant groups.
“In June 2024, a member of Palestinian Islamic Jihad was identified as an employee of the organization,” it said.
“In September 2024, another MSF employee was identified as a Hamas sniper.
“Despite repeated requests, the organization did not provide full disclosure regarding the identities and roles of these individuals,” the statement added.
When contacted, MSF said it “would never knowingly employ people engaging in military activity.”
“Any employee who engages in military activity would pose a danger to our staff and our patients.”
The ministry’s statement did not say whether MSF’s license had been revoked.
“In terms of registration, MSF continues to engage and discuss with Israeli authorities,” the charity said. “We have not yet received a decision on re-registration.”
The ministry said its latest measures would not affect the delivery of aid to Gaza.
“Only a limited number of organizations — less than 15 percent — were found to be in violation of the regulatory framework,” it said.
Several NGOs have told AFP the new rules will have a major impact on aid distribution in Gaza.
The amount of aid entering Gaza remains inadequate.
While the October 10 ceasefire agreement stipulated the entry of 600 trucks per day, only 100 to 300 are carrying humanitarian aid, according to NGOs and the United Nations.
The Ministry of Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism said in a statement the move was part of Israel’s decision to “strengthen and update” regulations governing the activities of international NGOs in the Palestinian territory.
“Humanitarian organizations that fail to meet security and transparency requirements will have their licenses suspended,” the ministry said.
It added that organizations which “failed to cooperate and refused to submit a list of their Palestinian employees in order to rule out any links to terrorism” had received formal notice that their licenses would be revoked as of January 1.
The organizations concerned — whose names were not disclosed — were ordered to cease all activities by March 1.
The ministry said the groups were given 10 months to provide the requested information but “nonetheless failed to comply with the requirements.”
The ministry told AFP earlier this month that as of November 25, approximately 100 registration requests had been submitted and “only 14 organization requests have been rejected.”
“The remainder have been approved or are currently under review,” it added.
In its statement on Tuesday, the ministry alleged after an investigation that the international medical charity Doctors Without Borders (MSF) had employed two individuals with links to Palestinian militant groups.
“In June 2024, a member of Palestinian Islamic Jihad was identified as an employee of the organization,” it said.
“In September 2024, another MSF employee was identified as a Hamas sniper.
“Despite repeated requests, the organization did not provide full disclosure regarding the identities and roles of these individuals,” the statement added.
When contacted, MSF said it “would never knowingly employ people engaging in military activity.”
“Any employee who engages in military activity would pose a danger to our staff and our patients.”
The ministry’s statement did not say whether MSF’s license had been revoked.
“In terms of registration, MSF continues to engage and discuss with Israeli authorities,” the charity said. “We have not yet received a decision on re-registration.”
The ministry said its latest measures would not affect the delivery of aid to Gaza.
“Only a limited number of organizations — less than 15 percent — were found to be in violation of the regulatory framework,” it said.
Several NGOs have told AFP the new rules will have a major impact on aid distribution in Gaza.
The amount of aid entering Gaza remains inadequate.
While the October 10 ceasefire agreement stipulated the entry of 600 trucks per day, only 100 to 300 are carrying humanitarian aid, according to NGOs and the United Nations.
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