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Private Merchants Resume Aid Coordination into Gaza After Hamas Tax Dispute
By Drooid · · How we work
Resumption of Private Merchant Coordination in Gaza
Private merchants have agreed to restart the movement of aid and commercial goods into the Gaza Strip following a brief suspension. The Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) announced the decision on Monday, noting that coordination will resume gradually with a focus on essential supplies ahead of the winter season. Oversight will be tightened to ensure payments are made exclusively through bank transfers and documented, aiming to prevent Hamas from exploiting the mechanism for economic or military gain.
Background to the Suspension
The suspension began after reports that Hamas demanded approximately NIS 10,000 per truck and required that goods be sold in cash. Merchants halted coordination activities in protest of these demands, which they described as extortionist. COGAT cautioned that merchants’ reports alone do not verify that Hamas has stopped imposing the taxes.
Official Statements & Responses
COGAT emphasized that the resumption aligns with Israel’s commitment to the humanitarian provisions of the cease-fire agreement. It warned that any merchant found paying Hamas will have their authorization revoked. Board of Peace Director-General Nickolay Mladenov condemned Hamas for interfering with supply chains, stating that such intimidation deepens civilian suffering in Gaza.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The merchants' reports do not, in themselves, constitute verification that Hamas has ceased imposing taxes,” — Twitter. COGAT
Outlook and Next Steps
COGAT indicated that coordination will proceed according to a schedule set for January 29, 2026, with continued monitoring of transaction methods. The emphasis on bank-transfer payments and documentation is intended to safeguard the aid flow while limiting Hamas’s ability to profit from the process.