Symbolic imageIsrael halts commercial goods into Gaza amid dispute over truck fees
Israel's military body COGAT said on Thursday that commercial goods have stopped entering Gaza, blaming a dispute between traders and Hamas. Hamas and Gaza's government media office deny imposing taxes.
COGAT, the Israeli military body coordinating humanitarian affairs in Gaza, said Gaza's traders stopped coordinating the entry of commercial goods with Israeli authorities. It cites a Hamas charge of 10,000 shekels per truck and a demand that 30% of sales be made in cash. COGAT says the halt will cut daily truck entries, aid and commercial combined, by half to about 300. Nahed Shhaibar, head of Gaza's private transporters' association, said no commercial truck from Israel entered on Thursday, while aid trucks and commercial trucks from Egypt via an Israeli-controlled crossing did.
Hamas rejects the charge
Hamas calls the payment a voluntary contribution by wealthy residents to a fund for widows and orphans, and says it encourages cash because of a severe shortage. Gaza's Government Media Office says it has levied no taxes on commercial activity in three years, accuses Israel of disinformation and demands 600 trucks daily.
The 600-truck pledge
Under the US-mediated agreement, Israel must allow at least 600 aid trucks a day. Israel says this counts trucks, not their purpose, and that commercial goods are needed to supplement aid.
Toll since the ceasefire
Gaza's Health Ministry says 1,501 people have been killed since the October 2025 ceasefire, and 5,323 injured.
Other opinions
Serbia's Politika leads with COGAT's account, while Turkey's Daily Sabah (via Anadolu) leads with Gaza's denial and its accusation of an Israeli disinformation campaign.