Gaza Merchants Halt Goods Deliveries Amid Hamas Extortion and Threats
Translated & summarized from Channel 13 by baba
Gaza's private sector merchants are halting the coordination of goods into the Strip due to Hamas's extortion and threats, including the detention of a merchant's son. This action, which accounts for half of weekly truck entries, jeopardizes the Gaza ceasefire agreement's goal of 600 daily trucks. Israel's Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories warned Hamas is responsible and urged international intervention, while assuring continued humanitarian aid via UN channels.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Gaza merchants are stopping goods deliveries due to Hamas's extortion and threats, including a recent kidnapping.
- The private sector accounts for 50% of weekly truck entries into Gaza.
- Hamas is reportedly demanding 10,000 shekels per truck and cash sales.
- The disruption threatens the Gaza ceasefire agreement's target of 600 trucks daily.
- Israel's COGAT stated Hamas is responsible and urged international intervention.
- Humanitarian aid will continue to enter Gaza via UN and international organizations.
Private sector merchants in Gaza have announced they will cease coordinating the entry of goods into the Strip until further notice, following escalating threats and a "forced taxation mechanism" imposed by Hamas. The decision came after Hamas operatives reportedly detained the son of a merchant who refused to comply with the group's demands for payment.
According to the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), Maj. Gen. Yoram Levy, the private sector accounts for approximately 50% of all trucks entering Gaza weekly. Their cessation of operations significantly impacts Israel's ability to meet the agreed-upon target of 600 trucks per day under the ceasefire agreement.
Merchants claim Hamas is demanding around 10,000 shekels per truck and requiring them to sell 30% of their goods in cash, allegedly to seize the funds. This contradicts their agreements to conduct transactions solely via bank transfers.
Levy emphasized that Hamas bears responsibility for the consequences of this disruption and urged international actors to prevent the group from interfering with the entry of aid and goods, and from exploiting it for economic and military buildup. He warned that Hamas might spread false claims of shortages and Israeli non-compliance to shift blame.
COGAT stated it will continue to facilitate the entry of humanitarian aid and supplies through the UN, international organizations, and donor countries, estimating that around 250 trucks daily via these channels are sufficient for the Strip's humanitarian needs. The letter detailing these developments was sent to senior international officials involved with Gaza.
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