Hamas has denied imposing taxes or government fees on commercial trucks. (EPA Images pic)JERUSALEM: Israel on Thursday said commercial goods usually delivered into Gaza by private merchants had not entered the beleaguered territory for days because of Hamas threats and a taxation scheme, an accusation the group rejected.
Despite a fragile ceasefire observed since October 2025, the Gaza Strip remains engulfed in a severe humanitarian crisis and the alleged dispute between Hamas and merchants threatens to further cut off supplies to the territory.
Gaza, a tiny territory surrounded by Israel, Egypt and the Mediterranean Sea, has been under blockade even before Hamas's Oct 7, 2023 attack sparked the most recent war.
