Israel–Palestine–Lebanon

COGAT says Gaza merchants suspended goods-truck coordination amid reported Hamas taxation; Memiltary adds truck estimates

This version is a correction.

ASSESSMENT
Location
Gaza Strip
Importance
Standard

COGAT says private-sector merchants informed it that they had suspended coordination of trucks carrying goods into Gaza because of Hamas taxation demands and threats. According to COGAT, merchants reported demands of about NIS 10,000 per truck and that about 30% of goods had to be sold for cash; COGAT also says merchants reported that the son of one who refused was arrested. A separate in-window post by Memiltary, citing Israel National News, says private-sector trucks were about half of truck traffic and a target of 600 trucks per day had been set. The merchant allegations are reported by COGAT; the latter figures are only relayed by Memiltary, and neither set is independently verified here.

Verification: unverified

Evidence: Middle East Military Forum relays COGAT- and Israel National News-attributed Gaza shipment claims, COGAT says Gaza merchants suspended goods-truck coordination after reported taxation demands and threats

COGAT’s attached post says the suspension, tax demands and detention were reported to it by merchants; these are allegations relayed by COGAT, not independent verification. Memiltary’s in-window post attributes the half-of-trucks and 600-per-day figures to Israel National News, but the underlying article was not read.