World News
Israel says commercial goods suspended from Gaza; trucking union chief disputes claim
Associated Press reports that COGAT announced commercial goods will stop entering Gaza, a claim Gaza's truckers union head disputes.
The short version
- COGAT, Israel's military body overseeing Gaza humanitarian affairs, announced a suspension of commercial goods entering the territory.[Associated Press]
- COGAT said it was relaying a decision by Gaza merchants fed up with Hamas taxes, but it was unclear who made the decision.[Associated Press]
- Nahed Sheheiber, head of Gaza's private truckers union, disputes that account and says Israel imposed the restrictions.[Associated Press]
- COGAT said Gaza's roughly 2 million residents need about 250 truckloads of goods daily, far below a ceasefire's 600-truck minimum.[Associated Press]
Key facts
- COGAT announced the suspension of commercial goods entering Gaza in a Wednesday statement, but it was unclear whether COGAT made the decision.[Associated Press]
- COGAT claimed it was relaying a decision by local Gaza merchants who had tired of Hamas taxing their trucks.[Associated Press]
- Nahed Sheheiber, head of Gaza's private truckers union, disputed the claim and said Israel made the decision to impose the restrictions.[Associated Press]
- COGAT claimed that Gaza's population of roughly 2 million required about 250 truckloads of goods each day.[Associated Press]
- A ceasefire brokered by the U.S. a year earlier stipulated a minimum of 600 trucks a day entering Gaza.[Associated Press]
- Shaina Low, a Norwegian Refugee Council spokesperson, said the humanitarian sector alone cannot meet all needs and that markets need to function.[Associated Press]
What remains uncertain
- It is unclear who made the decision to halt commercial goods: COGAT attributes it to Gaza merchants, while the truckers union head says Israel imposed the restrictions.[Associated Press]
- It was not clear from the COGAT announcement whether aid agencies would be allowed to increase shipments to offset the loss of commercial goods.[Associated Press]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.
- Israel says commercial goods will not enter Gaza, a major shut-off for the hungry territoryAssociated Press · Wire: associated-press
- Israel halts commercial goods from entering Gaza; Hamas denies tax claimsAl Jazeera
- Commercial goods are no longer entering Gaza, raising fears of worsening shortages in the territoryABC News - International
- Gaza families fear food shortages as Israel halts commercial shipmentsAl Jazeera