Israel to resume commercial shipments to Gaza after Hamas fee dispute

CAIRO, Oct 19 (Reuters) Israel said on Monday it would resume allowing commercial goods shipments into Gaza after a days-long halt over a tax dispute involving Hamas and ​merchants, restoring a key route for food and ‌other essentials to the aid-dependent enclave. COGAT, the Israeli military agency overseeing humanitarian affairs in Gaza, said it made the decision after merchants reported that Hamas authorities had withdrawn demands for payments of 10,000 shekels ($3,225) per truck. The resumption ‌of ​coordination is being carried out in accordance ⁠with Israel s commitment to ⁠the humanitarian provisions of the ceasefire agreement, it said. COGAT said the merchants accounts had not been independently verified and shipments would resume gradually, with priority given to essential goods ahead ​of winter. Oversight would be tightened to ensure payments are made and received only through documented bank transfers, with any ⁠merchant found to have paid Hamas facing ⁠exclusion from th