Farmers under Qassam fire stop shipments of food to Gaza

A large group of farmers from communities in southern Israel under constant bombardment from Gaza's terror groups arrived at the Sufa border crossing and prevented the transfer of provisions into the Strip.

The farmers said they were demonstrating against Israel's policy of continuing to ship aid into Gaza while rocket attacks continue to emanate from the territory.

The protest seemed to resound even louder when, with the demonstration in full gear, Israeli troops operating near Sufa came under attack from Palestinian mortar shell barrages. An IDF soldier was lightly wounded in the clashes.

Farmers demonstrating near Sufa (Photo: Tsafrir Abayov)

The farmers blocked the road leading up to the crossing with their cars and prevented trucks from unloading their cargo for almost an hour. Due to the protest and the nearby clashes – several of the truck drivers backed away from the crossing. The group of farmers left a short while afterwards.

"'It's inconceivable that while we are being attacked with Qassam rockets, we're also sending food into Gaza," said Itamar Gilad, a resident of Dekel in the Eshkol Regional Council.

"We have no intention of sitting on our hands and just accepting daily rocket attacks on our homes. If there is no security in our lives, then the provisions will not pass through our regional council.

"If the residents of Ashkelon and Sderot have no objection to the goods passing through their towns, then

let the trucks make their deliveries to the Erez crossing (in northern Gaza) – but they cannot come in through our home."

The group said they would continue to block the road until the shipments are no longer made through Sufa.