When you delve into the data, some interesting details emerge.
For example, over the past month, by far more aid has been coming from Kerem Shalom in Israel than through Rafah in Egypt, and it looks like there have been some logistics problems over the past couple of weeks.
But most curious is that among the expected critical food items like flour, oil and milk, and among the large aid organizations like World Food Program or various Arab Red Crescent societies, we see some more luxurious food items being brought in, nearly all of them from what are called "the private sector."
For example, 50 pallets of croissants were imported by two traders, Abu Haitham and Al Khazander.
And the majority of the frozen chickens and meat that have gone into Gaza, hundreds of pallets, have been sent and received by the Ibrahim al-Taweel company, which appears to be a meat importer based on its logo.
All of the named private sector companies that are importing goods into Gaza go through the Rafah crossing, not through Kerem Shalom.
One item among the food, medicine and blankets is also very unusual. On February 6, a truckful of forklifts came into Gaza via Rafah. it was donated by UNRWA but the recipient was "Private sector - Adham Shuhaiber." It is a very out-of-place item - the only heavy equipment I could find - in a database of over 15,000 items.
I have no direct evidence that anything bad is going on, but if Hamas was taking advantage of the importing of goods into Gaza, it stands to reason that they would be able to pressure private sector companies to bring in what they need to continue fighting.
(h/t Irene)
