Prices soar as Gaza smuggling booms, with officials, soldiers and middlemen accused of profiting
- An Associated Press investigation found that smuggling of restricted goods into Gaza has expanded sharply, pushing up prices for basic items and creating lucrative profits for traders and intermediaries.
- The report says cigarettes and tobacco, which have been banned from entry since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023, bring the largest returns, while fuel, iPhones, solar panels and anesthetics are also being brought in illegally.
- AP said Israeli soldiers, other middlemen and the Hamas-led government are accused of taking cuts from the trade, based on court records and interviews with traders, truckers, officials and residents.
- Israel restricts many items it calls dual use, including concrete, vehicle parts and X-ray machines, saying they could be repurposed for military use by Hamas.
- The Israeli military said it takes smuggling seriously and works to stop it, while denying any broad implication of misconduct by its personnel.
An Associated Press investigation says smuggling into Gaza has surged as Israel restricts the entry of many goods, leaving Palestinians to pay sharply higher prices for everyday items. The report describes a market in which cigarettes, fuel, batteries, medicine and other restricted products move through clandestine channels, often at steep markups.
According to the investigation, the trade is generating millions of dollars for smugglers and middlemen. AP cites court documents and interviews showing that payoffs may go to a range of people, including Israeli troops, drivers and warehouse workers, while the Hamas-led government also takes a cut.
Cigarettes and tobacco are described as the most profitable items because they have been barred from entry since the war began in October 2023. Other goods mentioned in the report include iPhones, solar panels, fuel and anesthetics, which are said to enter Gaza illegally despite Israeli restrictions.
Israel says it limits goods it considers dual use, such as concrete, vehicle parts and X-ray machines, because they could be diverted for military purposes. The Israeli military said it works to prevent smuggling and takes suspected involvement by its personnel seriously.
加沙走私激增推高物价，官员、士兵和中间商被指从中牟利
美联社调查称，随着以色列限制许多物资进入加沙，走私活动明显增加，巴勒斯坦人因此不得不为日常用品支付更高价格。报道描述的市场中，香烟、燃料、电池、药品和其他受限商品都通过秘密渠道流通，价格往往大幅加价。
调查还称，这项贸易为走私者和中间商带来数百万美元收益。美联社援引法院文件和采访指出，分成可能流向以色列士兵、司机、仓库工人等多方，哈马斯主导的政府也会抽取一部分。
报道说，香烟和烟草利润最高，因为自2023年10月战争开始以来它们一直被禁止进入加沙。文中还提到，iPhone、太阳能板、燃料和麻醉药等物资也被非法运入加沙。
以色列表示，它限制被视为“双用途”的物资，例如水泥、汽车零件和X光机，因为这些物资可能被转作军事用途。以色列军方说，自己正在努力阻止走私，并认真对待人员涉嫌参与的问题。