# What May I Mail to Gaza **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 2, 2010, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-may-i-mail-to-gaza/541635 "2010-06-02T13:16:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-may-i-mail-to-gaza/541635/1 "2010-06-02T13:16:59Z")
On another, lesser, board I am in a dispute over the Gaza convoy thing. I posted a chart from The Economist listing the stuff Israel does not allow to come into Gaza. The list is unofficial, from a list the Palestinians developed. [http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a275/PaulinSaudi/Graphics/GazaBlockade.jpg[\url]](http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a275/PaulinSaudi/Graphics/GazaBlockade.jpg%5B%5Curl%5D) So being devious, I went to the US Post Office site to cite the US Postal Manual, a favorite to read at bedtime. I hoped to find a list of items one may not mail to Gaza. I found nothing. **What items can we say with certainty are treated as contraband by the Israelis?** and also **What items are prohibited to be mailed to Gaza?** ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-may-i-mail-to-gaza/541635/2 "2010-06-02T14:26:52Z")
Maybe the Israeli post office wold be a better look? _Is_ Gaza treated as part of Israel, postally? I believe it’s separate telephonically, at least in theory. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Excellent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f19dbf/32.png) [@Mr.Excellent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Excellent)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-may-i-mail-to-gaza/541635/3 "2010-06-02T14:38:51Z")
Apparently, the Postal Administration of Israel is responsible for transferring mail to Gaza - once it’s there, I assume local authorities would take it. Thing is, the Israelis aren’t letting _any_ mail in right now. Cite: [http://www.usps.com/international/serviceupdates.htm#H27](http://www.usps.com/international/serviceupdates.htm#H27) So, to answer the OP: _All_ items are prohibited to be mailed to Gaza, at least for now. ---
**Author:** ![md2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@md2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/md2000)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-may-i-mail-to-gaza/541635/4 "2010-06-02T15:16:20Z")
You can mail whatever you want to Gaza. Whether it gets there is another story. Also, many countries agree with the US that Hamas is a “terrorist organization” so material aid to them in any form that is not carefully directed to “legitimate” charities may be considered aiding terrorism. You’re labelled a terrorist, please stay off our airplanes. This is how Cat Stevens got on the no-fly list… ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-may-i-mail-to-gaza/541635/5 "2010-06-02T15:33:21Z")
Wow, an area with no mail service? I have never heard of such a thing. Imagine that! Thank you all. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-may-i-mail-to-gaza/541635/6 "2010-06-02T17:47:06Z")
> [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](#): > > [http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a275/PaulinSaudi/Graphics/GazaBlockade.jpg](http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a275/PaulinSaudi/Graphics/GazaBlockade.jpg) No chicken hatcheries or chickens, but they allow cartons for transporting the non-existent chicks?? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2010, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-may-i-mail-to-gaza/541635/7 "2010-06-02T18:15:34Z")
> [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](#): > > Wow, an area with no mail service? I have never heard of such a thing. Imagine that! Thank you all. So does Israel simply send everything back to the original sender, or is there a big warehouse outside Tel Aviv somewhere where all the mail that’s been sent to Gaza over the past several years is stored away? If the blockade ends, will the residents of Gaza be treated to several years worth of old junk mail, National Geographic Magazines and birthday cards from relative abroad being delivered all at once?