Israel halts commercial goods from entering Gaza; Hamas denies tax claims

Israel has stopped commercial goods from entering Gaza for two days, according to the article. The halt affects shipments brought in by private merchants rather than aid groups. It matters because Gaza’s 2.1 million people rely completely on Israel’s border crossings for incoming supplies.

The blocked shipments include fruit, meat, and winter clothing. Aid groups generally bring staples such as flour, while merchants supply more perishable foods. Winter clothing is also important as colder weather approaches. Without commercial deliveries, fewer kinds of food and basic goods reach local markets.

The suspension cuts off a key supply source during an already severe humanitarian crisis. Humanitarian workers warn that aid alone cannot meet everyone’s needs. If commercial shipments do not resume, shortages could deepen, prices could rise, and families may find food and other necessities less affordable.

COGAT stands for the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories. The article describes it as an Israeli military body that “oversees humanitarian affairs” in Gaza. It announced the suspension of commercial shipments and publicly explained Israel’s reason for the decision.

COGAT’s practical authority comes through Israel’s control of the border crossings used to bring goods into Gaza. That gives Israeli authorities the ability to permit, restrict, or halt incoming commercial shipments. The article also says Gaza is completely reliant on these crossings for supplies. Israel is separately obliged under a US-mediated agreement to allow at least 600 humanitarian-aid trucks daily.

The article does not describe every legal power COGAT holds. It does show the consequences of its decisions. When commercial entry stopped, fruit, meat, winter clothing, and other market supplies were cut off. Humanitarian groups warned that aid deliveries alone could not replace a functioning commercial market.

The dispute centers on why commercial trucks stopped entering Gaza. COGAT says local merchants made that decision after Hamas imposed a 10,000-shekel fee on every truck entering Gaza. It also claims Hamas demanded that 30 percent of all Gaza sales be conducted in cash.

Gaza’s government media office rejects that explanation. It calls Israel’s account disinformation and says the payment was voluntary. According to the office, the money supported a fund helping widows, orphans, and other people in need. It also says cash payments were encouraged because Gaza faces an acute cash shortage, not because merchants were required to use them.

The truckers’ union supports the Gaza-side account. Its head, Nahed Sheheiber, said Israel imposed the restrictions and was using local fees as a pretext. The competing claims have not been resolved in the article. Meanwhile, the disagreement has interrupted commercial supplies and threatens food access.

The article describes Gaza’s dependence as near-total: its 2.1 million residents are completely reliant on Israel’s border crossings for incoming supplies. That dependence includes both humanitarian aid and goods purchased by private merchants. A disruption at the crossings therefore affects food, clothing, and market prices across the territory.

Nahed Sheheiber, head of Gaza’s private truckers union, said roughly 300 trucks normally enter each day. He estimated that two-thirds carry commercial goods, which would be about 200 commercial trucks daily. These figures are his account, while diplomats say far fewer than the required 600 humanitarian trucks usually enter each day.

The reported flow is not enough to make Gaza secure from disruption. The article says Gaza is still suffering from famine, and a hunger monitor warned that more than two-thirds of its people could face acute hunger by year-end. Halting commercial trucks removes a large part of the normal supply stream at once.

Commercial shipments do more than add extra goods. They help keep Gaza’s food markets functioning and prices under control. Merchants bring perishable items such as fruit and meat, while aid groups generally provide staples such as flour. Stopping commercial deliveries therefore narrows both supply and choice.

The article gives a direct example: fruit and winter clothing were among the goods affected by the halt. Humanitarian workers say a combination of aid and a robust commercial market is needed for affordability. Shaina Low of the Norwegian Refugee Council said the humanitarian sector alone cannot meet everyone’s needs and that markets must function.

If aid continues but commercial trade remains suspended, people may still receive some staple supplies while struggling to find other goods. Reduced supply can make available products harder to afford. The article links the disruption to fears about food access during famine and ahead of winter, when clothing needs also increase.

Humanitarian aid is essential, but the article says it cannot cover every need in Gaza. Aid groups generally bring basic staples such as flour. Those deliveries can support people facing hunger, but they do not replace the full range of goods normally found through private trade.

Private merchants provide perishable foods, including fruits and meat, and bring other necessities such as winter clothing. Their shipments help markets operate and can keep prices from rising sharply. Shaina Low of the Norwegian Refugee Council said the humanitarian sector alone cannot meet everyone’s needs. She stressed that markets need to function.

The distinction matters because the commercial halt removes one supply channel while the humanitarian crisis continues. Even if aid trucks enter, families may face fewer choices and higher costs for goods aid does not regularly provide. The article says diplomats report fewer than 600 humanitarian trucks usually enter daily, adding to concern about whether aid can compensate.

Border controls make supply chains vulnerable to decisions made during political or administrative disputes. Gaza is completely reliant on Israel’s crossings for incoming supplies. When commercial entry stops, merchants cannot replace missing shipments through another route described in the article. A disagreement therefore becomes a direct civilian supply problem.

The article shows the mechanism clearly. Israel says Hamas fees and cash rules caused merchants to stop sending trucks. Gaza officials and truckers instead blame Israeli restrictions. Whatever the cause, the result is the same: fruit, meat, winter clothing, and other commercial goods no longer enter normally. Reduced supply threatens affordability and market activity.

Aid can soften the impact but cannot fully replace commerce. Aid groups bring staples, while merchants supply perishable foods and other goods. The territory is already suffering from famine, and a hunger monitor warned that more than two-thirds of people could face acute hunger by year-end. Prolonged disruption could deepen shortages and price pressure.