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Gaza

Israel halts commercial goods into Gaza for five days over truck fee row

COGAT stopped commercial shipments on 14 October, blaming a Hamas fee on traders; it said shipments would restart on 19 October after the fee was dropped.

First seen
StatusConfirmed
Sources3 cited
A humanitarian aid truck departing after offloading at the Kerem Shalom crossing, 13 November 2025
A humanitarian aid truck departing after offloading at the Kerem Shalom crossing, 13 November 2025. Kerem Shalom crossing, Gaza-Israel border, 2025. Photo: U.S. Army USARCENT by Sgt. 1st Class Malcolm Cohens-Ashley / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain
10,000 shekelsfee per truck cited by COGATCOGAT via Reuters
300trucks a day after the haltCOGAT via Reuters
600aid trucks a day required under the ceasefireReuters

Israel's military body for Palestinian civil affairs, COGAT, said on Wednesday, 14 October, that commercial goods were no longer entering Gaza. It said merchants had stopped coordinating shipments because of a 10,000-shekel fee per truck set by Hamas and a demand that 30 per cent of sales be in cash.

Hamas called the fee a voluntary contribution for needy families and blamed a cash shortage. Gaza's private transport union blamed Israeli restrictions and said no commercial trucks from Israel entered on Thursday. COGAT said daily truck entries would fall to about 300; under the US-mediated ceasefire, Israel is to allow at least 600 aid trucks a day.

On 19 October Israel said shipments would resume gradually after merchants reported the fee had been withdrawn, with essentials prioritised before winter and payments to go through documented bank transfers. COGAT said the merchants' accounts had not been independently verified. Zikim and Kissufim crossings stayed closed that week.

Where this comes from

  1. Al-Monitor (Reuters)2026-10-15 · al-monitor.com
  2. Al-Monitor (Reuters)2026-10-19 · al-monitor.com
  3. ITV News (AP)2026-10-15 · www.itv.com

Barq summarises the reporting above in its own words. Figures are given as the named source gives them.