Hamas Extorts Truckers Entering Gaza, Israel Confirms

Israel has officially confirmed that Hamas is operating a forced collection mechanism targeting merchants bringing goods into the Gaza Strip. In a letter to international community leaders, the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), Maj. Gen. Yoram Levy, revealed that Hamas is demanding approximately 10,000 shekels per truck from private merchants. This extortion scheme, which also mandates that 30% of goods be sold for cash, has led merchants to halt coordination of goods entering Gaza. According to COGAT, the private sector accounts for about half of all trucks entering Gaza weekly, and their cessation of activity jeopardizes Israel's ability to meet the ceasefire agreement's target of 600 trucks per day.

Hamas's demands are reportedly also being extended to sub-merchants and are intended for drinking water supplies, indicating a desire to control not just the entry of goods but also their sale and the flow of money within the Strip. The letter details an incident where Hamas security forces arrested the son of a merchant who refused to comply with the organization's tax demands, further pressuring merchants. Merchants have announced they will stop coordinating goods entry until further notice due to these threats and fears for their safety.

COGAT emphasized that Hamas bears responsibility for the consequences of this disruption and warned that the organization might exploit the situation to claim shortages and blame Israel for violating the ceasefire agreement. Israel, however, stated it will continue to allow humanitarian aid and supplies into Gaza through the UN, international organizations, and donor countries, estimating that approximately 250 trucks per day via these humanitarian channels meet the Strip's needs. The letter was sent to Nikolay Mladenov, Maj. Gen. Jasper Jeffers, and Ramiz Alakbarov, urging them to act to prevent Hamas from exploiting aid and goods for its economic and military buildup.