GAZA, Feb 12 (Reuters) - Israel temporarily eased its blockade of the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip on Thursday to allow Palestinian flower growers to export 25,000 blooms to Europe ahead of Valentine's Day. The amount of carnations allowed out of the Gaza Strip was only a fraction of what farmers produce. Many farmers say they have no choice but to feed the crop to sheep.

Israel tightened its blockade of the Gaza Strip after Hamas Islamists wrested control of the territory from President Mahmoud Abbas's secular Fatah faction in 2007. Israel allows in aid, but exports are banned with few exceptions.

Defence official Peter Lerner said Israel allowed Thursday's exports at the request of the Netherlands. From Israel, they will be shipped to Europe for the holiday on Feb. 14.

It is unclear if Israel will allow future exports.

Through Egyptian mediation, Israel and Hamas are negotiating a longer-term truce following a 22-day war that left large parts of the impoverished Gaza Strip in ruins. The proposed deal calls for Israel to open border crossings but it is unclear whether exports will be allowed more regularly.

Although many of the Gaza Strip's 1.5 million residents do not celebrate Valentine's Day, viewing it as a Western and Christian holiday, some stores displayed red flowers and heart-shaped gifts. (Reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi in Gaza and Dan Williams in Jerusalem; Writing by Adam Entous; Editing by Katie Nguyen) (For blogs and links on Israeli politics and other Israeli and Palestinian news, go to http://blogs.reuters.com/axismundi)

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