Gaza private sector warns of deepening economic paralysis, demands opening crossings

The emergency committee of Gaza's commercial, industrial, and agricultural chambers and the private sector warned that continued Israeli restrictions on the movement of people and goods are worsening economic paralysis. In a press conference, they demanded lifting restrictions at crossings, ending the limitation of imports to a small number of merchants, and allowing the entry of production and construction materials. They noted that the average daily truck entry was 191 trucks versus 600 agreed upon, the number of importers dropped from 2,000 merchants to 10–13, and payments for entry arrangements exceeded $2.06 billion.

The emergency committee of the commercial, industrial, and agricultural chambers and the private sector in the Gaza Strip warned that continued Israeli restrictions on the movement of people and goods are worsening economic paralysis and hindering the restoration of commercial and productive activity. In a press conference held in Gaza yesterday, the committee demanded lifting restrictions at crossings and ensuring their regular flow, ending the limitation of imports to a small number of merchants, and immediately allowing the entry of mineral oils, vehicle spare parts, supplies for desalination plants and bakeries, raw materials, and machinery. It stressed the need to enable the national committee for managing the Gaza Strip to follow up on private sector issues, and called on the parties sponsoring the ceasefire and the United Nations to pressure the occupation to implement understandings. The committee noted that the average daily truck entry since the start of the ceasefire agreement on October 10, 2025, was about 191 trucks, compared to about 600 agreed upon, i.e., about 32% of the required level. It also pointed out that the number of importers dropped from more than 2,000 merchants before the war to between 10 and 13 merchants currently, and that amounts paid for goods entry arrangements exceeded $2.06 billion from the start of the war until July 26, 2026. Businessman Ali al-Hayek warned that continued restrictions on fuel and spare parts threaten to halt vital facilities, describing the industrial situation as "catastrophic." Muhammad al-Asar stressed the need to bring in cement to begin reconstruction, and Wael al-Hulais demanded allowing the entry of vehicles and spare parts. The committee called for opening all crossings without conditions to achieve real recovery.