Mladenov recieves COGAT letter, says suspension of private sector goods into Gaza is 'unacceptable'

Nickolay Mladenov, the Peace Council's director-general, revealed on Thursday that the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) had suspended coordination for private-sector goods entering Gaza due to threats and coercion by Hamas. In a post on X/Twitter, Mladenov criticized the reported harassment of merchants and interference in commercial supply chains.

He emphasized that these actions exacerbate the suffering of Gaza's civilians and must be halted immediately. Mladenov stressed the urgent need for the National Committee for the Administration of Gaza (NCAG), backed by the International Stabilization Force (ISF), to be deployed swiftly. He reiterated that civilian supplies, humanitarian assistance, and commercial activity must be safeguarded from coercion, exploitation, and interference.

Mladenov urged all parties to collaborate with the Board of Peace to implement the comprehensive peace plan endorsed by the United Nations Security Council in Resolution 2803, including the necessary arrangements for NCAG and ISF operations in Gaza. This entails disarming the region, transitioning to legitimate governance, and protecting humanitarian and commercial supply chains.

The suspension of private-sector goods into Gaza stems from a tax dispute between local merchants and Hamas, where merchants stopped coordinating with COGAT over a 10,000 shekel fee imposed by Hamas per truck entering Gaza and a 30% cash requirement for all sales in Gaza. Hamas later clarified that the fee was a voluntary contribution to a national fund for the needy and that cash payments were encouraged due to a cash shortage in the territory.

While trucks carrying humanitarian aid continued to enter Gaza, commercial goods from Israel halted their entry. COGAT reported that the daily number of trucks, carrying both humanitarian and commercial goods, would decrease to around 300 from the usual 600.