Israel Facilitates Hamas Revenue Stream Through Gaza Aid Trucks
Translated & summarized from Hamal by baba
Israel's policy of allowing 600 trucks daily into Gaza, far exceeding humanitarian needs, is enabling Hamas to collect an estimated 90 million shekels monthly in taxes from commercial goods. Hamas uses violent methods to enforce these taxes, which are crucial for its funding. The Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories warned that Hamas is using this mechanism to strengthen itself economically and militarily, urging international intervention.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Hamas generates up to 90 million shekels monthly by taxing commercial trucks entering Gaza.
- Israel permits 600 trucks daily into Gaza, exceeding the 250 needed for humanitarian aid.
- Hamas uses violence and imprisonment to enforce tax collection from Gaza merchants.
- The terror group forces merchants to sell 30% of cargo for cash, bypassing bank transfers.
- COGAT warns Hamas is exploiting goods entry for economic and military strengthening.
- Israel's policy allows Hamas to receive substantial cash sums, despite not transferring funds directly.
Israel is inadvertently enabling Hamas to generate significant revenue, estimated at up to 90 million shekels per month, by allowing a large volume of commercial goods into Gaza, according to a statement from the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT).
Hamas employs aggressive tactics, including violence and imprisonment, to collect taxes from private merchants on goods entering the Gaza Strip. A recent incident involved Hamas members beating a merchant's son and imprisoning him for refusing to pay taxes on trucks of goods. This has led other merchants to halt imports, demonstrating Hamas's de facto tax authority.
COGAT, headed by Major General Yoram Levy, highlighted in a letter to international officials that while Israel agreed to allow 600 trucks daily into Gaza as part of a ceasefire, only about 250 trucks, supplied by the UN and international organizations, are needed for humanitarian necessities. The remaining approximately 300 trucks are commercial, with Hamas reportedly demanding around 10,000 shekels per truck. This generates a potential monthly income of 90 million shekels for the terror group.
Furthermore, Hamas compels merchants to sell about 30% of their cargo for cash, bypassing bank transfers and allowing Hamas to seize more funds to finance its operations. The organization plans to expand its tax collection to include water sales. The goods entering Gaza are not limited to essential humanitarian supplies; they include luxury items like chocolates, sweets, and energy drinks, contributing to a surprising abundance and low prices in Gaza's markets, as noted by COGAT itself.
Major General Levy warned that Hamas is exploiting the goods entry mechanism for economic and military strengthening and urged the UN and the Peace Process Coordination and Information Center to intervene. While Israel does not directly transfer funds to Hamas, its policy allows the terror group to receive substantial cash sums, raising questions about why Israel permits this revenue stream without taking action to halt the collection.
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