Israel halts commercial goods imports into Gaza and blocks military base

Israel suspended commercial imports into the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, according to the Washington Examiner. Israel stated that the suspension was prompted by requests from Gaza merchants who reported extortion, taxation of trucks, and threats from Hamas. Palestinian groups asserted that the decision was made entirely by Israel. The Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, an agency of the Israeli government, formally announced the halt. [1]

Separately, Israel has blocked a United States firm from building a military base in Gaza intended for international troops, as reported by The Guardian, Middle East Eye, and other outlets. Middle East Eye reported that Israel barred a United States contractor from the territory, preventing the construction of a base intended for Moroccan and Kosovan troops. The site was created by the Donald Trump peace board, according to reports from The Guardian, The Times of Israel, and The New Arab. [3][4][7][8][9][10]

In additional developments, Fox News reported that a senior member of the United Nations Commission of Inquiry on Israel admitted that genocide allegations against Israel had not been independently verified. Fox News also cited Palestinian Ministry of Health data indicating that the population of Gaza grew in 2025, which experts stated contradicts declarations of famine in the territory. [2]