Gaza aid shipments resume as Hamas backs down from extortion threats targeting private merchants

Merchants previously suspended truck coordination activities in protest of a tax threatened by Hamas, wherein the terror organization demanded payments of approximately NIS 10,000 per truck.

Private merchants in Gaza have agreed to resume bringing aid and commercial goods into the Gaza Strip after several days of suspended activity, the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) announced on Tuesday.

Merchants previously suspended truck coordination activities in protest of a tax threatened by Hamas, wherein the terror organization demanded payments of approximately NIS 10,000 per truck.

Hamas's extortionist demands also included a provision that goods must be sold in cash.

"The merchants' reports do not, in themselves, constitute verification that Hamas has ceased imposing taxes," COGAT said in a post on X/Twitter.

COGAT explained that coordination is expected to resume gradually, "with an emphasis on the entry of essential supplies ahead of the winter season, while strengthening oversight of merchants' compliance with their obligation to make and receive payments exclusively through bank transfers, including the documentation of transactions."

Merchants cooperating with Hamas will have authorization revoked

The statement continues, "These measures are intended to ensure that Hamas does not exploit the mechanism for its economic and military buildup.

"Any merchant found to have made payments to Hamas will have their authorization to operate under the mechanism for bringing goods into the Gaza Strip revoked. The resumption of coordination is being carried out in accordance with Israel's commitment to the humanitarian provisions of the ceasefire agreement."

BoP's Mladenov condemns Hamas threats, stymying of aid

Following the suspension of coordination for private-sector goods entering Gaza following reports of threats and coercion by Hamas, Director-General Nickolay Mladenov of the Board of Peace condemned Hamas for interfering with supply chains.

“As I have warned repeatedly, such practices are unacceptable and must end immediately. The intimidation of merchants and interference in the supply chain only deepen the suffering of Gaza's civilians,” Mladenov posted.

He stressed the urgent need to establish new governance and security arrangements in the Gaza Strip.
“These developments demonstrate why the rapid deployment of the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG) supported by the International Stabilization Force (ISF), is urgently needed,” he wrote.