Israeli authorities have barred commercial goods from entering Gaza for two days, citing a tax dispute between local merchants and Hamas, a claim Gaza's government media office has rejected as a false statement. The halt cuts off a crucial source of food and winter clothing for the enclave's 2.1 million people.
COGAT, the Israeli military body that oversees humanitarian affairs in the territories, announced the halt on Wednesday. Israeli authorities said local merchants made the decision in response to a 10,000 shekel ($3,220) fee imposed by Hamas on each truck entering Gaza, along with a demand that 30 percent of all sales in Gaza be carried out in cash.
The stoppage is expected to affect a crucial source of food and goods for Gaza's 2.1 million residents, who are wholly reliant on Israel's border crossings. The territory is still suffering from famine, and the halt also interrupts shipments of fruit and winter clothing.
Gaza's government media office refuted the claims on Thursday, condemning what it called a "blatant disinformation campaign and false statement." It described the Israeli announcement as an attempt to hold the government apparatus in Gaza responsible for the disruption of truck entry.
According to the media office, the truck fee was a voluntary payment into a fund providing aid for people in need, such as widows and orphans. It added that cash payments were encouraged because of an acute cash shortage in the war-torn territory, but were never a mandatory requirement.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- Commercial shipments are a crucial source of food and goods for Gaza's 2.1 million people, who depend on Israel's border crossings.
- The halt comes as the territory already faces famine, so even a short disruption to supply risks worsening humanitarian conditions.
- The rival explanations will shape how each side is held responsible: Israel points to Hamas, Hamas points to Israel.
Background
Gaza has long depended on goods entering through Israeli-controlled crossings, a reliance that deepened during the war and the blockade that followed. Humanitarian agencies have repeatedly warned of catastrophic conditions and famine. Alongside formal aid deliveries, commercial traffic has been one of the few remaining market channels for food and essentials, which is why a complete stoppage, even for days, carries serious consequences for ordinary households.
Key Perspectives
COGAT (Israeli military authority): The halt is a decision by local merchants reacting to what it describes as Hamas-imposed fees and cash demands, shifting responsibility away from Israeli authorities.
Gaza's government media office: The claims are false and the fee is a voluntary contribution to an aid fund for widows and orphans. It says Israel is trying to blame the local administration for the supply disruption.
Humanitarian observers: The immediate concern is the impact on famine conditions. Whatever the cause of the dispute, civilians who rely on the flow of food and winter clothing are the ones who pay the price.
What to Watch
- Whether commercial traffic resumes in the coming days or the halt is extended.
- Any further statements from merchants themselves about why the trucks stopped.
- The reaction of humanitarian agencies and international governments to the tightening of supply into Gaza.