World · Middle East · 2 hrs ago
Israel halts commercial shipments into Gaza, raising fears of shortages
Israel has suspended commercial shipments into Gaza, stopping goods such as fruit and winter clothing from entering for two days.
Gaza relies on goods allowed through Israeli border crossings, and merchants have supplied foods that aid groups do not generally bring in.
Israeli authorities say merchants halted shipments over Hamas fees and threats, but Gaza’s private truckers union says Israel imposed the restrictions.
Gaza’s Ministry of Economy had sought 10,000 shekels per truck, which its undersecretary described as a donation to help pay civil servants, not a tax.
The suspension could worsen shortages and make supplies less affordable as winter approaches.
Food insecurity in Gaza remains at crisis levels, and aid groups warn that disruptions could undo recent gains.
It is not clear whether aid agencies can increase deliveries to make up for the missing commercial goods.
Israel suspended commercial shipments into Gaza, cutting off a key source of food and other supplies.
COGAT said the halt followed a decision by Gaza merchants, who it said were angered by Hamas taxes and threats.
Gaza’s private truckers union disputed that account and said Israel imposed the restrictions.
The halt has raised fears of shortages and higher prices as winter approaches.
It was unclear whether aid agencies would be allowed to increase deliveries to make up for the lost commercial goods.
- Who
- Israel’s COGAT suspended commercial shipments into Gaza; Gaza’s private truckers union disputes Israel’s account of who made the decision.
- What
- Commercial goods, including fruit and winter clothing, have stopped entering Gaza.
- When
- COGAT announced the suspension on Wednesday, October 14, 2026; Israeli authorities said on Thursday that no commercial goods had entered for two days.
- Where
- The Gaza Strip.
- Why
- COGAT said merchants halted shipments over Hamas taxes and threats; Gaza’s private truckers union said Israel imposed the restrictions.
Israel’s COGAT
Gaza’s private truckers union
Who made the decision
Israel’s COGAT
COGAT said local merchants decided to cancel shipment coordination.
Gaza’s private truckers union
Union head Nahed Sheheiber said Israel imposed the restrictions.
Reason for the halt
Israel’s COGAT
COGAT said merchants were angered by Hamas’s taxation mechanism and threats.
Gaza’s private truckers union
Sheheiber said Israel was citing fees levied by Gaza’s Ministry of Economy as a pretext to cut off commercial goods.
COGAT said merchants alerted Israel that they would not bring goods into Gaza.
COGAT announced the suspension of commercial shipments.
Israeli authorities said no commercial goods had entered Gaza for two days, and the truckers union met with Gaza’s Ministry of Economy.
- Shipment halt
- No commercial goods entered Gaza for two days, according to Israeli authorities.
- Goods affected
- Fruit and winter clothing were among the commercial shipments halted.
- Ministry request
- 10,000 shekels, about $3,226, per truck entering Gaza.
- COGAT estimate
- Gaza’s population of roughly 2 million people required about 250 truckloads of goods each day.
- Ceasefire benchmark
- A U.S.-brokered ceasefire stipulated a minimum of 600 trucks a day.
3 sources
What people are saying
The humanitarian sector on its own cannot meet the needs of all the people
We were prepared to coordinate the entry of their trucks as usual, but the vendors informed us that they were cancelling the coordination due to Hamas's taxation mechanism and threats against them
The merchants are not the ones who stopped the shipments
The Israeli coordinator is claiming that Gaza's merchants are responsible, but the truth is that the Israelis are the ones who imposed the restrictions