developing· Security· Updated 12:45

Gaza Aid Shipments Resume After Hamas Backs Down From Extortion Demands

Israel announced on Monday that it will gradually resume allowing commercial and private-sector goods to enter the Gaza Strip through the Kerem Shalom crossing. The shipments had been suspended for several days due to a dispute between local merchants and the terrorist organization Hamas. Merchants had halted coordination in protest after Hamas demanded a tax of approximately 10,000 shekels ($3,220) per truck and insisted that 30 percent of stock be sold only for cash.

3 newsrooms · 2 languages · since 19 Oct, 16:26

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Gaza Aid Shipments Resume After Hamas Backs Down From Extortion Demands — Illustration by baba

What happened

01Israel is gradually resuming commercial shipments into Gaza after Hamas dropped its tax demands on local merchants.
02Hamas had demanded a tax of approximately 10,000 shekels per truck and insisted on cash-only sales for 30 percent of stock.
03COAGT announced it will tighten oversight to ensure all transactions are conducted solely through documented bank transfers.
04Any merchant found to have paid Hamas will lose their authorization to import goods into the Gaza Strip.
05Palestinian media reported that five people, including two boys, were killed in Israeli strikes in Gaza City and Khan Younis.
06One man killed in the strikes was previously jailed in Israel and released in the 2011 Shalit exchange.
07The UN's World Food Programme is ending aid to 500,000 Gazans due to funding shortfalls.

According to COGAT, the Israeli military unit coordinating humanitarian affairs, the resumption of coordination was requested by the merchants after they reported that Hamas had dropped its demands. Hamas claimed the fee was a voluntary donation from wealthier residents to support those in need. Israel has warned that oversight will be tightened to ensure all payments are made exclusively through documented bank transfers to prevent cash from reaching Hamas, and any merchant found paying the terrorist organization will lose their authorization to import goods.

Meanwhile, Palestinian media reported that five people, including two boys, were killed in Israeli strikes in Gaza City and Khan Younis on Monday. One of those killed was previously jailed in Israel and released in the 2011 Shalit exchange. Additionally, the UN's World Food Programme announced it is ending aid to 500,000 Gazans due to funding shortfalls.

Summarized by baba from the reports of 3 newsrooms. Updated 12:58

Latest report: The Jerusalem Post. Read The Jerusalem Post’s original