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Source: https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hkza9stjmx
Israel Warns of Gaza Aid Crisis as Merchants Strike over Hamas Threats
(Ynet News) Elisha Ben Kimon - Maj.-Gen. Yoram Halevy, coordinator of government activities in the territories (COGAT), sent an urgent letter Wednesday to Board of Peace Executive Director Nikolay Mladenov, alerting him that merchants in Gaza had gone on strike over threats from Hamas and the oppressive taxation system it imposes. Halevy warned that the flow of goods into Gaza would drop by 50%, adding: "Hamas will try to blame Israel." The decision to strike came after Hamas arrested the son of a merchant whose father had refuse demands for extortion payments and taxes. Hamas demands payment of 10,000 shekels ($3,200) for every truck entering Gaza. Halevy made clear that Hamas bears full responsibility and called on international officials to act immediately to prevent Hamas from interfering with the mechanism for bringing aid into Gaza.