Commercial goods have stopped entering the Gaza Strip for two consecutive days, deepening the humanitarian crisis in the war-torn enclave. Israeli authorities confirmed the suspension on Wednesday, saying the decision followed a dispute between Palestinian merchants and the Hamas administration over taxation and payment methods.
According to COGAT, the Israeli military body responsible for humanitarian affairs in Gaza, local traders voluntarily halted coordination of shipments across the Israeli-controlled border. COGAT claimed the merchants acted after Hamas allegedly imposed a 10,000 shekel fee, about $3,220, on each truck entering Gaza and demanded that 30 percent of all sales be conducted in cash rather than bank transfers. The agency also cited reports of intimidation, including the alleged arrest of a merchant’s son who refused to comply.
The halt affects critical commercial supplies, including fresh fruits, vegetables and winter clothing, which are a major source of food and essential goods for Gaza’s 2.1 million residents. Officials estimate the suspension could cut the total number of trucks entering the territory daily from around 600 to just 300, including both humanitarian aid and commercial shipments. The Strip has been under a tight blockade since 2007 and remains dependent on Israeli border crossings, with large parts of the population living in makeshift shelters after three years of war.
Hamas strongly denied the allegations on Thursday through Gaza’s Government Media Office, describing Israel’s statement as a blatant disinformation campaign. The group said it has not collected any taxes or government fees on commercial activity during the war due to the dire economic conditions, and that the 10,000 shekel payment was not a tax but a voluntary contribution to a community fund supporting widows, orphans and other vulnerable groups.
The media office added that encouraging cash payments was necessary to address a severe liquidity crisis in Gaza, but insisted it was never mandatory. Meanwhile, Gaza’s private truckers union said it was Israel, not the merchants, that unilaterally imposed the restriction and is using the fee as a pretext. International mediators have called the situation unacceptable, warning that any coercion of merchants would only worsen civilian suffering.
Gaza Supply Cut: Israel Blocks Commercial Trucks Over Alleged Hamas Taxation, Group Rejects Claim
RAFAH, GAZA - JANUARY 1: Displaced citizens work to buy food, fruits and vegetables needed during the war from the popular market on January 01, 2024 in Rafah, Gaza. More than 21,300 people have been killed in Gaza since the start of the war on Oct. 7, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. The new year saw fresh waves of displacement from central Gaza to the south as Israel intensified its combat operations there. Amid the widespread displacement caused by the war, 93 per cent of 2.3 million Gazans ar
