The disruption began when merchants halted their own truck coordination due to threats and demands from Hamas for 10,000 shekels, or roughly $3,225, per truck and 30% of sales in cash. COGAT reported that Hamas security personnel arrested the son of one merchant who refused to pay. The stoppage led to price increases for the territory's 2.1 million residents and a political conflict in which Hamas accused Trump's Board of Peace of being biased toward Israel.
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
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Israel Reopens Gaza Commercial Shipments After Hamas Drops $3,225 Fee
Geopolitics1 day ago
Private sector merchants are resuming the delivery of food and winter clothing into the Gaza Strip after a dispute over extortionate payment demands ended. Israel is now implementing stricter oversight for the resumed flow of goods, requiring documented bank transfers and banning any merchants found to have paid fees to Hamas. Hamas has disputed the nature of the funds, characterizing the payments as voluntary contributions from wealthy Gazans to support the poor.
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