Commercial goods stop entering Gaza amid dispute over Hamas fees

Summary

Commercial goods have stopped entering Gaza, raising fears of worsening shortages. Cogat blamed traders’ decision to stop coordinating shipments on a 10,000-shekel fee per lorry and a demand that 30% of sales be in cash; Hamas denied the fee was a tax, calling it a voluntary community contribution, and said cash payments were necessary. The National reported that humanitarian aid and commercial lorries from Egypt continued to enter, while Cogat said total lorry arrivals would fall by half to around 300. Palestinian importers told The Globe and Mail that Israel, not the merchants, had decided to halt commercial imports.

Timeline

1. The Hindu

   15 Oct 2026, 17:33 UTCSource ↗

   The Hindu reports that merchants coordinate with vendors outside Gaza and that Israel’s military examines shipments; the head of a private truckers union said the Ministry had asked merchants to pay 10,000 shekels per truck.

2. The National

   15 Oct 2026, 17:56 UTCSource ↗

   The National reports that Cogat blamed traders’ suspension of shipment coordination on Hamas’s 10,000-shekel lorry fee and a 30% cash-sales demand, which Hamas defended as a community contribution and market necessity, and said total lorry arrivals would fall by half to about 300.

3. The Globe and Mail

   15 Oct 2026, 22:39 UTCSource ↗

   The Globe and Mail reports that Israel said no commercial goods had entered Gaza for two days and blamed merchants protesting Hamas taxes, while Palestinian importers said Israel made the decision.

4. ABC News

   16 Oct 2026, 05:55 UTCSource ↗

   ABC News reports that Israeli authorities said no commercial goods were entering Gaza and blamed local vendors who they said were fed up with Hamas raising taxes.