Israeli Chains Quietly Profit From Gaza Supply Trade, Led by Victory’s 99 Million Shekel Disclosure

Victory supermarket chain exposed part of a large, largely hidden Israeli business feeding goods into the Gaza Strip. After a demand from the Israel Securities Authority, Victory reported sales of 99 million shekels to Gaza in the first quarter, adding context to its financial statements that showed revenue rising from 604 million to 756 million shekels, with most of the increase now understood to stem from Gaza-bound merchandise. Victory chief Eyal Rabid said, “Victory is not alone. More chains will probably have to report that they sold to Gaza.”

The names of companies in the system are not public. The Customs Authority says it must keep them confidential, and most businesses do not volunteer the information. One exception is Mehadrin, controlled by Yitzhak Tshuva, which said in its latest quarterly results that it earned 60 million shekels from sales to Gaza. Other names said to appear on the Customs list are Rami Levy and King Store, although both deny selling goods to Gaza, even while acknowledging they hold the relevant permits. Rami Levy CEO Yifat Atiyas-Levy said the chain obtains licenses for possible future use, but, she stressed, “my morality is not to sell to Gaza during war.”

According to a government coordination notice, 600 to 800 trucks enter Gaza each day at the start of 2026, and 70% carry food. A World Food Program food procurement report put Gaza-related food purchases at about 2 million tons worth 1.5 billion dollars in 2024, implying roughly 700 dollars per ton. Market estimates suggest current food-truck volumes translate into about 5 billion shekels in annual revenue.

In late September 2025, Customs published a special framework to integrate the Israeli sector into humanitarian aid transfers to Gaza, aiming to tighten oversight and reduce fears of goods being diverted to terrorist groups. The system uses large suppliers and retailers that meet thresholds set by food and pharmacy competition law, including annual turnover above 344 million shekels for suppliers and 286 million shekels for retailers. About 18 Gaza traders approved by the Shin Bet and Customs are operating now, and they buy directly from Israeli suppliers before the goods are inspected at agreed crossings and handed on to the Palestinian population.

The framework also drew legal challenges. Golden Isco Distribution, a food and cleaning products distributor from Arara, petitioned the High Court over discrimination, arguing it did not meet the turnover threshold and that the stricter rules were unnecessary for security. The petition was later withdrawn and the criteria remained unchanged. Some chains have chosen not to join for ideological reasons, including Yochananoff, which said it did not bid despite meeting the requirements because it is an Israeli chain serving Israeli customers and does not want to supply Gaza during the war and after the October 7 attacks.