{
  "id": 14825796,
  "title": "Israel cites merchants angered by Hamas taxes as commercial goods stop entering Gaza",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/israel-cites-merchants-angered-by-hamas-taxes-as-commercial-goods",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-16T00:15:46.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Times of Israel",
    "slug": "the-times-of-israel",
    "url": "https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-cites-merchants-angered-by-hamas-taxes-as-commercial-goods-stop-entering-gaza/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "Israel's defense ministry agency for civilian affairs, Cogat, informed international officials that commercial goods deliveries into Gaza have been suspended by private merchants. Cogat reported that merchants halted coordination for the entry of goods because of coercion by Hamas, which allegedly demanded approximately 10,000 shekels (US$3,200) for every truck entering the territory. The agency also noted that traders sell about 30% of goods in cash rather than through bank transfers and cited reports that Hamas security personnel arrested the son of a merchant who refused to comply.\n\nHamas has rejected these accusations, denying that it imposes taxes or government fees on commercial trucks. While the head of a private truckers union disputed the Israeli account, the individual admitted that Hamas is seeking NIS 10,000 per truck entering the Strip. Hamas maintains that this is a voluntary community initiative rather than taxation.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 5,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Jerusalem Post",
        "title": "Wikipedia left biased edits on Israel, Hamas, and Zionism pages intact despite bans, ADL finds",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/wikipedia-left-biased-edits-on-israel-hamas-and-zionism-pages-intact",
        "published": "2026-10-15T16:08:55.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The National UAE",
        "title": "Israel says entry of commercial goods into Gaza halted amid dispute between traders and Hamas",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/israel-says-entry-of-commercial-goods-into-gaza-halted-amid-dispute",
        "published": "2026-10-15T17:56:25.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Israel says commercial goods not entering Gaza over Hamas tax dispute",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/israel-says-commercial-goods-not-entering-gaza-over-hamas-tax-dispute",
        "published": "2026-10-15T21:16:44.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "Israel halts commercial goods from entering Gaza; Hamas denies tax claims",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/15/israel-halts-commercial-goods-from-entering-gaza-hamas-denies-tax",
        "published": "2026-10-15T21:57:58.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}