Gaza Merchants Halt Truck Deliveries Amid Hamas Extortion and Kidnapping
Translated & summarized from Kipa by baba
Gaza's private sector merchants are halting truck deliveries due to Hamas's extortion and the kidnapping of a merchant's son. Hamas is demanding significant cash payments and a percentage of goods, leading merchants to fear for their safety. Israel's Coordinator of Government Activities warned the international community that this could impact the ceasefire's truck quota and that Hamas may exploit the situation to blame Israel.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Gaza merchants suspended truck entries after Hamas threatened them and kidnapped a merchant's son.
- Hamas is demanding approximately 10,000 shekels per truck and 30% of goods in cash.
- The kidnapping occurred after a merchant refused to meet Hamas's financial demands.
- The private sector accounts for half of Gaza's weekly truck entries, potentially impacting a ceasefire quota.
- Israel's Yoram Levy warned the international community about Hamas's actions and potential blame-shifting.
Private sector merchants in the Gaza Strip announced on Wednesday they are halting the coordination of goods truck entries into the territory until further notice, following threats and demands for forced tax payments from Hamas. According to reports reaching Israel, Hamas security personnel arrested the son of one merchant on Tuesday and transferred him to Abbas Prison after his father refused to comply with the organization's demands. The merchants decided to cease operations due to the arrest and fears for their safety.
Hamas is reportedly demanding approximately 10,000 shekels per truck of goods entering Gaza, in addition to requiring merchants to sell about 30% of their merchandise for cash. These demands, which contradict the merchants' commitment to conduct all transactions via bank transfers, are seen as an attempt by Hamas to seize funds. The organization has reportedly expanded its collection mechanism to include sub-merchants and intends to apply it to drinking water supplies as well.
In response to these developments, Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, Maj. Gen. Yoram Levy, contacted senior international community officials, warning of the consequences. He stated that the private sector is responsible for about half of the weekly truck entries into Gaza, and its suspension could jeopardize the target of 600 trucks per day set by the ceasefire agreement. Levy placed responsibility on Hamas, cautioning that the organization might exploit the crisis to blame Israel for goods shortages while concealing its role in disrupting supplies and using the funds for its economic and military buildup.
Private sector merchants in Gaza are independent commercial entities authorized to bring goods into the Strip via trucks, separate from humanitarian aid mechanisms. Their operations supply products to local markets and account for roughly half of all weekly truck entries into Gaza.
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