8 years late, Palestinian mails, packages arrive in West Bank after Israel allows entry

In recent days the Palestinian postal staff in Jericho has been sorting through tons of undelivered mail in a room packed with letters, boxes and even a wheelchair.

Palestinians in the occupied West Bank are about to receive a special delivery of more than 10 tonnes of mail that has been delayed by Israel for the past eight years.

A Palestinian worker displays items sent by mail eight years ago as they reach destination, after Israel allowed the letters and goods into the West Bank from Jordan, where they were being held, Jericho, in the occupied West Bank on August 19. (REUTERS)

Postal workers have been sorting through thousands of mail sacks in the West Bank city of Jericho for the past several days after Israeli authorities allowed the entry of the letters and packages from neighbouring Jordan.

A Palestinian worker carries a bag containing items sent by mail eight years ago, after Israel allowed the letters and goods into the West Bank from Jordan, where they were being held, Jericho, in the occupied West Bank on August 19.

The 10.5 tonnes of mail had been held in Jordan since 2010 because Israel would not permit direct transfer to the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, Palestinian officials said.

Israeli authorities said the transfer was a one-time gesture and moves were under way to implement a 2016 agreement that would enable direct international mail links with the West Bank.

A Palestinian worker arranges items sent by mail eight years ago, after Israel allowed the letters and goods into the West Bank from Jordan, where they were being held, Jericho, in the occupied West Bank on August 19.

At the Jericho facility, a wheelchair and toys were among the items being sorted.

“A team was formed from across the city (Jericho) to deliver (the mail) to the people as soon as possible,” said Hussein Sawafta, director general of the Palestinian Post Service.

But Ramadan Ghazawy, a Palestinian postal official, said some material could be difficult to deliver because the contents had spilled out of damaged envelopes and boxes, while the addresses on others were unclear.

“There are toys for kids. Maybe they were one year old when those gifts were sent. Now they are eight,” Ghazawy said.