Making Chocolates in Gaza!

Published February 13th, 2020 - 12:04 GMT

Off a bumpy dirt road in Gaza city, a group of children stood outside a half-open factory door, desperate to get their hands on what was being made inside. 

"We want chocolate!" they shouted at a worker as he left the Al-Arees factory, which despite daunting obstacles churns out treats ranging from chocolate-covered biscuits to a Gazan version of a world famous spread, dubbed here 'Natalia'. 

Buckling in the face of candy-crazed kids, the man popped behind the door and returned with enough free chocolate to rot their growing teeth, Agence France Presse reported.

Al-Arees's products are Gazan but their components are not, as few of the basic raw ingredients are produced in the impoverished Mediterranean coastal strip. 

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A shop employee holds up jars of a Gazan version of a world famous spread, dubbed 'Natalia', in Gaza city on February 12, 2020. Al-Arees's products are Gazan but their components are not, as few of the basic raw ingredients are produced in the impoverished Mediterranean coastal strip. MOHAMMED ABED / AFP

Israel controls all goods that enter Gaza, imposing a blockade that tightened after the tiny enclave was seized by the Islamist group Hamas in 2007. Emmanuel DUNAND / AFP

A worker monitors the production of wafers at al-Arees sweets factory in Gaza City on February 5, 2020. Al-Arees's products are Gazan but their components are not, as few of the basic raw ingredients are produced in the impoverished Mediterranean coastal strip.EMMANUEL DUNAND / AFP

Despite ongoing tensions, Israel and Hamas have reached a series of agreements over the past year that have slightly eased tensions. That fragile accord led to an event in December which, for a Gazan producer, could fairly be described as momentous: for the first time in years Gaza exported sweet goods. Mohammed ABED / AFP

Workers at the al-Arees sweets factory sort a batch of chocolate-covered biscuits in Gaza City on February 5, 2020. Al-Arees's products are Gazan but their components are not, as few of the basic raw ingredients are produced in the impoverished Mediterranean coastal strip. Emmanuel DUNAND / AFP

Israel controls all goods that enter Gaza, imposing a blockade that tightened after the tiny enclave was seized by the Islamist group Hamas in 2007. Emmanuel DUNAND / AFP

Workers pack chocolate bars at al-Arees factory in Gaza City on February 5, 2020. Al-Arees's products are Gazan but their components are not, as few of the basic raw ingredients are produced in the impoverished Mediterranean coastal strip. Israel controls all goods that enter Gaza, imposing a blockade that tightened after the tiny enclave was seized by the Islamist group Hamas in 2007. EMMANUEL DUNAND / AFP

Wael al-Wadiya, chairman of Sarayo Alwadiya company, poses for a photo in front of some of the products his factory produces in Gaza City on February 4, 2020. Israel permits some vegetables and clothing to be sold abroad but not processed food. EMMANUEL DUNAND / AFP

Israel controls all goods that enter Gaza, imposing a blockade that tightened after the tiny enclave was seized by the Islamist group Hamas in 2007. MOHAMMED ABED / AFP

A shop employee holds up jars of a Gazan version of a world famous spread, dubbed 'Natalia', in Gaza city on February 12, 2020. Al-Arees's products are Gazan but their components are not, as few of the basic raw ingredients are produced in the impoverished Mediterranean coastal strip. MOHAMMED ABED / AFP
Israel controls all goods that enter Gaza, imposing a blockade that tightened after the tiny enclave was seized by the Islamist group Hamas in 2007. Emmanuel DUNAND / AFP
A worker monitors the production of wafers at al-Arees sweets factory in Gaza City on February 5, 2020. Al-Arees's products are Gazan but their components are not, as few of the basic raw ingredients are produced in the impoverished Mediterranean coastal strip.EMMANUEL DUNAND / AFP
Despite ongoing tensions, Israel and Hamas have reached a series of agreements over the past year that have slightly eased tensions. That fragile accord led to an event in December which, for a Gazan producer, could fairly be described as momentous: for the first time in years Gaza exported sweet goods.  Mohammed ABED / AFP
Workers at the al-Arees sweets factory sort a batch of chocolate-covered biscuits in Gaza City on February 5, 2020. Al-Arees's products are Gazan but their components are not, as few of the basic raw ingredients are produced in the impoverished Mediterranean coastal strip. Emmanuel DUNAND / AFP
Israel controls all goods that enter Gaza, imposing a blockade that tightened after the tiny enclave was seized by the Islamist group Hamas in 2007. Emmanuel DUNAND / AFP
Workers pack chocolate bars at al-Arees factory in Gaza City on February 5, 2020. Al-Arees's products are Gazan but their components are not, as few of the basic raw ingredients are produced in the impoverished Mediterranean coastal strip. Israel controls all goods that enter Gaza, imposing a blockade that tightened after the tiny enclave was seized by the Islamist group Hamas in 2007. EMMANUEL DUNAND / AFP
Wael al-Wadiya, chairman of Sarayo Alwadiya company, poses for a photo in front of some of the products his factory produces in Gaza City on February 4, 2020. Israel permits some vegetables and clothing to be sold abroad but not processed food.  EMMANUEL DUNAND / AFP
Israel controls all goods that enter Gaza, imposing a blockade that tightened after the tiny enclave was seized by the Islamist group Hamas in 2007. MOHAMMED ABED / AFP
A shop employee holds up jars of a Gazan version of a world famous spread, dubbed 'Natalia', in Gaza city on February 12, 2020. Al-Arees's products are Gazan but their components are not, as few of the basic raw ingredients are produced in the impoverished Mediterranean coastal strip. MOHAMMED ABED / AFP
A shop employee holds up jars of a Gazan version of a world famous spread, dubbed 'Natalia', in Gaza city on February 12, 2020. Al-Arees's products are Gazan but their components are not, as few of the basic raw ingredients are produced in the impoverished Mediterranean coastal strip. MOHAMMED ABED / AFP
Israel controls all goods that enter Gaza, imposing a blockade that tightened after the tiny enclave was seized by the Islamist group Hamas in 2007. Emmanuel DUNAND / AFP
Israel controls all goods that enter Gaza, imposing a blockade that tightened after the tiny enclave was seized by the Islamist group Hamas in 2007. Emmanuel DUNAND / AFP
A worker monitors the production of wafers at al-Arees sweets factory in Gaza City on February 5, 2020. Al-Arees's products are Gazan but their components are not, as few of the basic raw ingredients are produced in the impoverished Mediterranean coastal strip.EMMANUEL DUNAND / AFP
A worker monitors the production of wafers at al-Arees sweets factory in Gaza City on February 5, 2020. Al-Arees's products are Gazan but their components are not, as few of the basic raw ingredients are produced in the impoverished Mediterranean coastal strip.EMMANUEL DUNAND / AFP
Despite ongoing tensions, Israel and Hamas have reached a series of agreements over the past year that have slightly eased tensions. That fragile accord led to an event in December which, for a Gazan producer, could fairly be described as momentous: for the first time in years Gaza exported sweet goods.  Mohammed ABED / AFP
Despite ongoing tensions, Israel and Hamas have reached a series of agreements over the past year that have slightly eased tensions. That fragile accord led to an event in December which, for a Gazan producer, could fairly be described as momentous: for the first time in years Gaza exported sweet goods. Mohammed ABED / AFP
Workers at the al-Arees sweets factory sort a batch of chocolate-covered biscuits in Gaza City on February 5, 2020. Al-Arees's products are Gazan but their components are not, as few of the basic raw ingredients are produced in the impoverished Mediterranean coastal strip. Emmanuel DUNAND / AFP
Workers at the al-Arees sweets factory sort a batch of chocolate-covered biscuits in Gaza City on February 5, 2020. Al-Arees's products are Gazan but their components are not, as few of the basic raw ingredients are produced in the impoverished Mediterranean coastal strip. Emmanuel DUNAND / AFP
Israel controls all goods that enter Gaza, imposing a blockade that tightened after the tiny enclave was seized by the Islamist group Hamas in 2007. Emmanuel DUNAND / AFP
Israel controls all goods that enter Gaza, imposing a blockade that tightened after the tiny enclave was seized by the Islamist group Hamas in 2007. Emmanuel DUNAND / AFP
Workers pack chocolate bars at al-Arees factory in Gaza City on February 5, 2020. Al-Arees's products are Gazan but their components are not, as few of the basic raw ingredients are produced in the impoverished Mediterranean coastal strip. Israel controls all goods that enter Gaza, imposing a blockade that tightened after the tiny enclave was seized by the Islamist group Hamas in 2007. EMMANUEL DUNAND / AFP
Workers pack chocolate bars at al-Arees factory in Gaza City on February 5, 2020. Al-Arees's products are Gazan but their components are not, as few of the basic raw ingredients are produced in the impoverished Mediterranean coastal strip. Israel controls all goods that enter Gaza, imposing a blockade that tightened after the tiny enclave was seized by the Islamist group Hamas in 2007. EMMANUEL DUNAND / AFP
Wael al-Wadiya, chairman of Sarayo Alwadiya company, poses for a photo in front of some of the products his factory produces in Gaza City on February 4, 2020. Israel permits some vegetables and clothing to be sold abroad but not processed food.  EMMANUEL DUNAND / AFP
Wael al-Wadiya, chairman of Sarayo Alwadiya company, poses for a photo in front of some of the products his factory produces in Gaza City on February 4, 2020. Israel permits some vegetables and clothing to be sold abroad but not processed food. EMMANUEL DUNAND / AFP
Israel controls all goods that enter Gaza, imposing a blockade that tightened after the tiny enclave was seized by the Islamist group Hamas in 2007. MOHAMMED ABED / AFP
Israel controls all goods that enter Gaza, imposing a blockade that tightened after the tiny enclave was seized by the Islamist group Hamas in 2007. MOHAMMED ABED / AFP

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