Israel Halts Commercial Goods to Gaza Amid Tax Dispute With Hamas

No commercial goods entered Gaza for two straight days as of Thursday, according to the Israeli military body that oversees crossings into the territory, which blamed a dispute over truck fees allegedly imposed by Hamas. Hamas's government media office in Gaza denied the characterization within a day of the announcement, setting up a public dispute over who bears responsibility for the stoppage.

What triggered the halt?

COGAT, the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories — the Israeli military body that oversees humanitarian affairs in Gaza — announced the halt on Wednesday. The agency said local merchants themselves made the decision to stop sending trucks in response to fees it attributed to Hamas, according to Al Jazeera.

What does COGAT say Hamas is demanding?

COGAT claimed Hamas imposed a 10,000-shekel ($3,220) fee on each truck entering Gaza, plus a requirement that 30 percent of all sales inside the territory be conducted in cash, Al Jazeera reported. Those figures have not been independently verified beyond the Israeli military's account.

How does Hamas respond to the tax claims?

Gaza's government media office called the Israeli account a "blatant disinformation campaign and false statement" on Thursday, according to Al Jazeera. The office said the payment in question was a voluntary contribution to a fund supporting widows and orphans, not a mandatory truck fee, and said it was an attempt "to hold the government apparatus in Gaza responsible for the disruption of truck entry." On the cash requirement, the media office said payments in cash were encouraged — not mandated — because of what it described as an acute cash shortage in the territory.

Why does the halt matter for Gaza's food supply?

The suspension affects commercial shipments including fruit and winter clothing, according to Al Jazeera, which cited COGAT data showing aid groups generally bring in staples such as flour while private merchants import more perishable goods like fruit and meat. Roughly 2.1 million people in Gaza depend entirely on Israel's border crossings for food and other supplies, in a territory the report describes as still suffering from famine. A global food monitor cited by Al Jazeera warned earlier that more than two-thirds of Gazans could face acute hunger by the end of the year.

What are aid groups saying about the stoppage?

Humanitarian workers told Al Jazeera that aid shipments alone cannot stabilize prices without a functioning commercial market alongside them.

"The humanitarian sector on its own cannot meet the needs of all the people. The markets need to be functioning," said Shaina Low, a spokesperson for the Norwegian Refugee Council.

The halt comes as winter approaches, raising concerns about affordability and access to clothing and perishable food if the dispute over fees is not resolved.

Glossary

• COGAT: The Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, the Israeli military body that oversees humanitarian and crossing operations affecting Gaza.
• Shekel: Israel's currency; COGAT cited a fee of 10,000 shekels, or about $3,220, per truck.
• Gaza government media office: A communications arm linked to Hamas's governing apparatus in Gaza that issues public statements and rebuttals.