Israel eased the blockade after the intense world pressure that followed the killing of nine terrorists on board the Gaza-bound ship Mavi Marmara on May 31. Ironically, the Independent was among the news outlets that pressured Israel to ease the closure at that time.
Abu Dan's firm used to export 90 percent of its finished goods to the Israeli clothing market. This ended in 2007, when Hamas took over control of Gaza after a bloody struggle with Fatah, its rival terror group. Israel closed the main cargo crossing, Karni, and Abu Dan could no longer import raw materials through it, or export finished clothes to Israel."
