Israel to restart commercial shipments to Gaza after halt linked to Hamas fee dispute
Israel said commercial deliveries to Gaza would restart gradually after merchants reported Hamas had dropped a disputed truck fee, with essential supplies taking priority.
Gaza City, Palestine. Israel announced on Monday that it would reopen access for commercial cargo entering Gaza, following a suspension lasting several days linked to a tax dispute between Hamas and merchants. The move restores an important supply channel for food and other necessities to the aid-reliant territory.
Deliveries to return under stricter controls
COGAT, the Israeli military body responsible for humanitarian affairs concerning Gaza, said merchants had reported that Hamas authorities were no longer demanding 10,000 shekels ($3,225) for each truck. The agency said it had not independently confirmed those reports.
According to COGAT, deliveries would restart in stages, giving essential supplies precedence as winter approaches. It said the decision reflected Israel’s commitment to humanitarian obligations under the ceasefire accord.
The agency also announced stronger oversight, requiring payments to be sent and received exclusively through bank transfers with documentation. Merchants found to have paid Hamas would lose access to the system.
Hamas described the 10,000-shekel charge as a voluntary donation from wealthier Gaza residents to a national fund providing support for people in need across the war-devastated territory.
Deadly strikes amid continuing ceasefire accusations
Aid remains essential for most Gaza residents following three years of war, successive displacements and tight limits on aid entering the territory. A ceasefire brokered by the United States last year stopped the most intense fighting, but Israeli attacks have continued.
Health officials in Gaza reported on Monday that separate Israeli strikes on Gaza City and Khan Younis had killed at least five Palestinians, among them a boy aged 14. No immediate response came from the Israeli military.
Israel maintains that Hamas is breaching the ceasefire by rebuilding its weapons supplies and conducting attacks. Hamas, in turn, says Israel is weakening the agreement.
According to Gaza health officials, Israeli fire has killed approximately 1,500 Palestinians since the ceasefire began in October 2025. Israel says militants in Gaza have killed four Israeli soldiers during that period.
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