Israeli authorities have reported that no commercial goods have entered Gaza for two days, attributing the halt to a tax dispute between local merchants and Hamas. The Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), which oversees humanitarian affairs in Gaza, announced the suspension on Wednesday. COGAT claimed that local merchants decided to stop shipments in response to a fee of 10,000 shekels ($3,220) imposed by Hamas on each truck entering Gaza, along with a demand for 30 percent of all sales in Gaza to be conducted in cash.
This suspension is expected to affect a vital source of food and goods for the 2.1 million residents of Gaza, who rely on Israel’s border crossings. Gaza’s government media office rejected COGAT's claims, labeling them as a disinformation campaign. The media office stated that the fee was a voluntary contribution to aid funds for those in need, such as widows and orphans, and that cash payments were encouraged due to a cash shortage, but were not mandatory.
The halt to commercial shipments, which includes essential items such as fruit and winter clothing, raises concerns about food availability as winter approaches. Aid groups typically bring in staple foods, while merchants import perishable items. Humanitarian workers have expressed that a combination of aid and a functioning commercial market is necessary to control prices. Shaina Low, a spokesperson for the Norwegian Refugee Council, stated, "The humanitarian sector on its own cannot meet the needs of all the people. The markets need to be functioning."
Nahed Sheheiber, head of Gaza’s private truckers union, disputed the Israeli narrative, asserting that the restrictions were imposed by Israel. Following COGAT's announcement, Sheheiber’s union met with Gaza’s Ministry of Economy to voice concerns, claiming that Israel was using fees levied by the ministry as a pretext to halt commercial goods.
A global hunger monitor reported in July that over two-thirds of Gaza's population could face acute hunger by the end of the year. Under a US-mediated agreement, Israel is required to allow a minimum of 600 trucks carrying humanitarian aid to enter Gaza daily, although diplomats indicate that the actual number is often much lower, with Sheheiber estimating that around 300 trucks enter daily, two-thirds of which carry commercial goods.