Israel Halts Commercial Goods Imports Into Gaza Strip
Israel suspended commercial imports into Gaza on October 14, causing food prices to soar amid a dispute over merchant fees and taxes.
The Cabinet of Israel halted the import of commercial goods into the Gaza Strip starting October 14, 2026. The suspension, which entered its fifth day by October 18, followed a dispute regarding fees involving Palestinian merchants and Hamas.
Israel claims that authorities imposed taxes on commercial trucks. However, the Gaza Government Media Office rejected these assertions, stating that a cited 10,000-shekel fee was actually for a voluntary community fund intended to support vulnerable families. The office accused Israel of using the fee dispute as a pretext to tighten a blockade that has been in place since 2007 and called for mediators to secure the daily entry of 600 trucks.
The halt has led to sharp price increases for staples such as flour, eggs, and onions. Residents report that the lack of shipments is exacerbating a humanitarian crisis, with some families skipping meals. According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, food prices in Gaza averaged 204 percent above pre-October 2023 levels as of September 2026.
