World · 19 d ago
Commercial goods stop entering Gaza, Israel says
COGAT
Hamas fees stopped merchants
Gaza media office
The fee was voluntary
COGAT, the Israeli military body overseeing aid to Gaza, said merchants stopped after Hamas imposed a fee of 10,000 shekels per truck. Gaza's government media office called this disinformation and said the fee was a voluntary payment to an aid fund.
People in Gaza who rely on Israel's crossings
2.1 million people
The halt cuts off fruit, meat and winter clothing for 2.1 million people, while aid groups mostly bring in staples such as flour.
"The humanitarian sector on its own cannot meet the needs of all the people. The markets need to be functioning."
— Shaina Low, Norwegian Refugee Council
Background
Under a US-mediated agreement, Israel must let at least 600 aid trucks a day into Gaza. The head of Gaza's truckers union said closer to 300 enter, two-thirds carrying commercial goods.
