Business was slower than usual at gift and flower shops in Gaza on Tuesday as Valentine's Day is considered un-Islamic by many of the 2.3 million Palestinians living in the strip.
Wasim Abdu, who owns the Safeer El-Hub (Ambassador of Love) flower shop in Gaza City, said sporadic clashes with Israel and the devastating earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria had cast a shadow over celebrations.
"The people of Gaza love life and freedom and like to celebrate all occasions, but the turnout isn't as expected or desired," he told Reuters.
Unable to ship their blooms abroad due to export restrictions, farmers said land in the strip dedicated to cultivating flowers had been slashed from 1,250 acres to just four, with thousands of workers laid off.
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