Gaza goods deliveries halt as traders and Hamas clash over ‘taxes’
Private merchants have suspended goods deliveries into Gaza for several days, Israel said on Thursday, blaming Hamas threats and a taxation scheme for the stoppage. The Gaza traders tax dispute now threatens to cut off supplies to a territory already deep in humanitarian crisis.
Israel made the accusation despite a fragile ceasefire that has held since October 2025. Gaza remains under blockade, and the standoff between Hamas and merchants could further choke the flow of food and basic goods.
Gaza traders tax dispute: what Israel claims
COGAT, the Israeli defence ministry agency that handles civilian affairs in the Palestinian territories, said merchants had suspended their coordination for bringing goods into Gaza “until further notice” because of what it called Hamas coercion.
In a letter to international officials working on the ceasefire, COGAT said traders reported that Hamas was demanding about 10,000 shekels ($3,200) for every truck entering Gaza, and that merchants were being pushed to sell around 30 per cent of their goods in cash instead of through bank transfers.
The agency also cited reports that Hamas security personnel had arrested the son of a merchant who refused to meet the demands. Traders, it said, stopped operations out of fear for their own safety.
COGAT said the private sector accounts for roughly half of all trucks entering Gaza each week. It warned the suspension could undermine the ceasefire agreement. The agency added that Israel itself had not stopped the coordination, the merchants had.
How Hamas responded
Hamas rejected the claims in a letter to mediators including Egypt, Qatar and Turkiye. The group said it “categorically” denied imposing taxes or government fees on commercial trucks entering Gaza.
It said no taxes or fees had been collected on commercial activity during the past three years of war, given the humanitarian and economic conditions. According to Hamas, the 10,000-shekel figure referred to a “voluntary community initiative” by Gaza’s businesspeople to put money into a “national fund” for relief projects, while the cash requirement was meant to inject “cash liquidity” into the territory.
Why the suspension matters
The reaction from the ceasefire machinery was swift. Nickolay Mladenov, the Gaza representative of the US-backed Board of Peace tasked with implementing the ceasefire, said he had received COGAT’s letter and condemned reported “threats and coercion” against merchants. “Such practices are unacceptable and must end immediately,” he wrote on X, adding that interference in supply chains deepened the suffering of Gaza’s civilians.
The dispute lands at an already grim moment for aid flows in the region. The International Organisation for Migration last week called on Israel to ease the “constraints” on the entry of critical supplies into Gaza.
Pakistan has stayed engaged on the Middle East crisis through diplomatic channels. Islamabad condemned Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia at the UN Security Council this week, while the region’s shipping lanes remain under strain from shadow-fleet sanctions and the Hormuz sinking.
FAQs
Why did traders stop delivering goods to Gaza?
Israel says merchants suspended coordination for goods entry “until further notice” because of alleged Hamas threats and demands of about 10,000 shekels per truck. Hamas denies the charges.
How much of Gaza’s supply comes from private traders?
According to COGAT, the private sector accounts for roughly half of all trucks entering Gaza each week.
What is the ceasefire status in Gaza?
A fragile ceasefire has been observed since October 2025, but the territory remains in severe humanitarian crisis and under blockade.
Who is Nickolay Mladenov?
He is the Gaza representative of the US-backed Board of Peace, which is tasked with implementing the ceasefire. He condemned reported threats and coercion against merchants.
