Israel said it will permit the gradual and closely monitored entry of commercial goods into the Gaza Strip through local merchants, according to COGAT, the defence ministry unit that oversees civilian affairs in the occupied Palestinian territories. The measure is intended to boost the volume of supplies reaching the enclave and lessen dependence on deliveries coordinated by the United Nations and other international organisations. Humanitarian officials say Gaza requires about 600 aid trucks daily—a level Israel allowed before the war began in October 2023—to meet basic needs. Supplies entering the territory have fallen sharply during the conflict, prompting repeated warnings from U.N. agencies about the risk of famine. The announcement comes after Hamas indicated at the weekend it was prepared to work with the International Committee of the Red Cross on delivering aid to Israeli hostages, if certain conditions were met. Israel says about 50 hostages remain in Gaza, roughly 20 of whom are believed to be alive, while Gaza health authorities put Palestinian fatalities from the war at more than 60,000.