Smuggling of Israeli-restricted goods into Gaza booms since October 2023
An AP investigation found cigarettes, iPhones, fuel and medicine are smuggled in, with profits shared by soldiers and middlemen
AI-assisted coverage comparison, editor-supervised · How this was made
A Palestinian vendor offers bottles of diesel for sale in al-Maghazi refugee camp, central Gaza Strip, Saturday, Aug. 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Photograph: Associated Press News (embedded from source)
What this story says
- An AP investigation found smuggling of goods restricted by Israel into Gaza has increased since October 2023, with cigarettes, iPhones, fuel and medicine among the items smuggled in.
- Israeli soldiers and middlemen are accused of profiting from the trade, which has driven up prices for Palestinians and led hospitals to rely on smugglers for supplies.
- Israel restricts or bans certain goods, including concrete and vehicle parts, citing concerns they could be repurposed for military use by Hamas.
- The Israeli military said it takes smuggling seriously and investigates allegations of military personnel involvement, but did not answer detailed questions about soldiers' roles.
Who covered it
Percentages are shares of the 32 outlets carrying a published leaning rating. 2 of the 34 outlets we know ran this story carry no rating and are not counted in them. Coverage measured .
Trust
82/100
Craft
85/100
Hype
15/100
34 sources · methodology
Smuggling of goods restricted by Israel into the Gaza Strip has increased since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023, according to an Associated Press investigation. The AP reported that cigarettes, iPhones, solar panels, fuel and anaesthetics are among the items smuggled into the territory, where Palestinians face inflated prices for groceries and batteries.
The investigation, based on Israeli court documents and interviews with traders, truckers and officials, found that hospitals in Gaza have turned to smugglers for medicine and equipment. Israeli soldiers and middlemen are accused of pocketing millions of dollars from the trade. The Israeli military said it takes smuggling seriously and investigates allegations of military personnel involvement, but did not respond to detailed questions about soldiers' roles.
Israel restricts or bans certain goods from entering Gaza, including concrete, vehicle parts and X-ray machines, citing concerns they could be repurposed for military use by Hamas. The military classifies around 150 categories of items as "dual use," though some, such as generators and X-ray machines, have been allowed in under strict monitoring.
What the coverage left out
None of the right-rated digests mention the AP’s finding that Gaza’s Hamas-led government takes a cut of the profits from smuggled goods. The centre-rated digests also omit this detail. None of the right-rated digests include the AP’s claim that Israeli soldiers are accused of profiting from the smuggling trade.
Still developing. We have re-checked which outlets are covering this 1 time, most recently on 20 Aug 2026, 15:00, and will add the sides that appear.
How each side covered it
Our own reading of the reporting listed below, written from the outlets’ articles rather than quoted from them. The reasoning is set out on our methodology page.
Left
15 rated outlets
- The left-rated reports led on the findings of the AP investigation, highlighting the role of Israeli soldiers and middlemen in profiting from the smuggling trade. The Associated Press and The Toronto Star both published the full investigation, which detailed how Palestinians face inflated prices and hospitals rely on smugglers for supplies. The reports quoted traders and officials who described the smuggling as routine and necessary due to Israeli restrictions.
- The left-rated digests carried the AP’s claim that Israeli soldiers and middlemen are accused of pocketing millions of dollars. They also included the AP’s finding that Gaza’s Hamas-led government takes a cut of the profits from smuggled goods, either as a reported "tax" of up to 20% or an 80% penalty if goods are undeclared.
Centre
14 rated outlets
- The centre-rated digests led on the boom in smuggling and the range of goods entering Gaza illegally, including cigarettes, iPhones, fuel and solar panels. They reported that Palestinians face inflated prices for groceries and batteries, and that hospitals turn to smugglers for medicine and equipment. Washington Top News published the full AP investigation, which included the military’s statement that it takes smuggling seriously and investigates allegations of military personnel involvement.
- The centre-rated digests did not mention the AP’s finding that Gaza’s Hamas-led government takes a cut of the profits from smuggled goods. They also did not include the AP’s claim that Israeli soldiers are accused of profiting from the trade.
Right
3 rated outlets
- The right-rated digests led on the boom in smuggling and the range of goods entering Gaza illegally. They reported that Palestinians face inflated prices for groceries and batteries, and that hospitals turn to smugglers for medicine and equipment. None of the right-rated digests mentioned the AP’s finding that Israeli soldiers are accused of profiting from the trade, or that Gaza’s Hamas-led government takes a cut of the profits.
Questions about this coverage
- How did the left and right cover Smuggling of Israeli-restricted goods into Gaza booms since October 2023?
- Of the 32 outlets on this story carrying a published leaning rating, 47% are rated left, 44% are rated centre, 9% are rated right. Those percentages are shares of the rated outlets, not of every outlet that ran it, which was 34. The sections above set out what each side emphasised, in its own terms.
- Is Smuggling of Israeli-restricted goods into Gaza booms since October 2023 left or right?
- Neither side dominates it. Of the 32 rated outlets on this story, 47% are rated left, 44% are rated centre, 9% are rated right, and no side holds the 70% this site would want before calling a field one-sided. A story is not left or right in any case; the outlets that carried it are what carry ratings.
- Is the coverage of Smuggling of Israeli-restricted goods into Gaza booms since October 2023 biased?
- Smuggling of Israeli-restricted goods into Gaza booms since October 2023 is one event reported by 34 outlets, and this page does not rate the story as biased or unbiased. What it publishes is the spread: which outlets ran it, where named rating organisations place each of them on the spectrum, and what each side chose to lead with. A leaning rating describes an outlet's record over time, not this article, and the two should not be run together.
- Which outlets covered Smuggling of Israeli-restricted goods into Gaza booms since October 2023?
- 34 that we know of, every one of them listed further up this page with a link to its own report and to what we hold on the publisher. Nothing here is a summary of somebody else's summary: the outlets are named so the original reporting can be read.
- What goods are being smuggled into Gaza?
- An Associated Press investigation found cigarettes, iPhones, solar panels, fuel and anaesthetics are among the goods smuggled into Gaza since October 2023. Israel restricts or bans certain items, including concrete and vehicle parts, citing concerns they could be repurposed for military use by Hamas.
- Who is profiting from the smuggling trade in Gaza?
- The AP reported that Israeli soldiers and middlemen are accused of pocketing millions of dollars from the smuggling trade. Gaza’s Hamas-led government also takes a cut of the profits, either as a reported "tax" of up to 20% or an 80% penalty if goods are undeclared.
- How are hospitals in Gaza affected by the smuggling?
- Hospitals in Gaza have turned to smugglers for medicine and equipment due to shortages caused by Israeli restrictions. The AP investigation found that smugglers provide essential supplies, though at inflated prices for Palestinians.
Read it at the source
34 outlets, grouped by the leaning a published rating gives them. Every headline links to the original; an underlined outlet name opens our profile of that publisher.
Left
15- Smuggling goods into Gaza booms as Israeli curbs drive prices (opens The Siasat Daily in a new tab)
The Siasat Daily — is The Siasat Daily biased? Our profile of this outlet
- AP investigation shows how banned goods are smuggled into Gaza and millions of dollars change hands (opens Daily Record in a new tab)
Daily Record — is Daily Record biased? Our profile of this outlet
- AP investigation shows how banned goods are smuggled into Gaza and millions of dollars change hands (opens SooLeader.com in a new tab)
SooLeader.com — is SooLeader.com biased? Our profile of this outlet
- AP investigation shows how banned goods are smuggled into Gaza and millions of dollars change hands (opens Oskaloosa Herald in a new tab)
Oskaloosa Herald — is Oskaloosa Herald biased? Our profile of this outlet
- AP investigation shows how banned goods are smuggled into Gaza and millions of dollars change hands (opens Beckley Register-Herald in a new tab)
Beckley Register-Herald — is Beckley Register-Herald biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Smuggling in Gaza: How banned goods make it across the border and millions of dollars change hands (opens NiagaraFallsReview.ca in a new tab)
NiagaraFallsReview.ca — is NiagaraFallsReview.ca biased? Our profile of this outlet
- AP investigation shows how banned goods are smuggled into Gaza and millions of dollars change hands (opens The Toronto Star in a new tab)
The Toronto Star — is The Toronto Star biased? Our profile of this outlet
- AP investigation shows how banned goods are smuggled into Gaza and millions of dollars change hands (opens The Seattle Times in a new tab)
The Seattle Times — is The Seattle Times biased? Our profile of this outlet
Show 7 more
- Smuggling in Gaza: How banned goods make it across the border and millions of dollars change hands (opens The Independent (US) in a new tab)
The Independent (US) — is The Independent (US) biased? Our profile of this outlet
- AP investigation shows how banned goods are smuggled into Gaza and millions of dollars change hands (opens Associated Press News in a new tab)
Associated Press News — is Associated Press News biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Smuggling in Gaza: How banned goods make it across the border and millions of dollars change hands (opens The Independent in a new tab)
The Independent — is The Independent biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Prices soar as Gaza smuggling booms. Officials, soldiers and middlemen are accused of cashing in (opens Durango Herald in a new tab)
Durango Herald — is Durango Herald biased? Our profile of this outlet
- AP investigation shows how banned goods are smuggled into Gaza and millions of dollars change hands (opens WellandTribune.ca in a new tab)
WellandTribune.ca — is WellandTribune.ca biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Smuggling in Gaza: How banned goods make it across the border and millions of dollars change hands (opens The Record in a new tab)
The Record — is The Record biased? Our profile of this outlet
- AP investigation shows how banned goods are smuggled into Gaza and millions of dollars change hands (opens The Hamilton Spectator in a new tab)
The Hamilton Spectator — is The Hamilton Spectator biased? Our profile of this outlet
Centre
14- Prices soar as Gaza smuggling booms. Officials, soldiers and middlemen are accused of cashing in (opens Idaho State Journal in a new tab)
Idaho State Journal — is Idaho State Journal biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Prices soar as Gaza smuggling booms. Officials, soldiers and middlemen are accused of cashing in (opens Joplin Globe in a new tab)
Joplin Globe — is Joplin Globe biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Prices soar as Gaza smuggling booms. Officials, soldiers and middlemen are accused of cashing in (opens Ottumwa Courier in a new tab)
Ottumwa Courier — is Ottumwa Courier biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Prices soar as Gaza smuggling booms. Officials, soldiers and middlemen are accused of cashing in (opens The Cumberland Times-News in a new tab)
The Cumberland Times-News — is The Cumberland Times-News biased? Our profile of this outlet
- AP investigation shows how banned goods are smuggled into Gaza and millions of dollars change hands (opens My Mother Lode in a new tab)
My Mother Lode — is My Mother Lode biased? Our profile of this outlet
- AP investigation shows how banned goods are smuggled into Gaza and millions of dollars change hands (opens Yakima Herald-Republic in a new tab)
Yakima Herald-Republic — is Yakima Herald-Republic biased? Our profile of this outlet
- AP investigation shows how banned goods are smuggled into Gaza and millions of dollars change hands (opens The Daily Advance in a new tab)
The Daily Advance — is The Daily Advance biased? Our profile of this outlet
- AP investigation shows how banned goods are smuggled into Gaza and millions of dollars change hands (opens Rutland Herald in a new tab)
Rutland Herald — is Rutland Herald biased? Our profile of this outlet
Show 6 more
- Smuggling in Gaza: How banned goods make it across the border and millions of dollars change hands (opens Washington Top News in a new tab)
Washington Top News — is Washington Top News biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Smuggling in Gaza: How banned goods make it across the border and millions of dollars change hands (opens The Star Democrat in a new tab)
The Star Democrat — is The Star Democrat biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Smuggling in Gaza: How banned goods make it across the border and millions of dollars change hands (opens WV News in a new tab)
- Smuggling in Gaza: How banned goods make it across the border and millions of dollars change hands (opens Mid Florida Newspapers in a new tab)
Mid Florida Newspapers — is Mid Florida Newspapers biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Smuggling in Gaza: How banned goods make it across the border and millions of dollars change hands (opens Cecil Daily in a new tab)
Cecil Daily — is Cecil Daily biased? Our profile of this outlet
- Smuggling in Gaza: How banned goods make it across the border and millions of dollars change hands (opens Winnipeg Free Press in a new tab)
Winnipeg Free Press — is Winnipeg Free Press biased? Our profile of this outlet
Right
3- Prices soar as Gaza smuggling booms. Officials, soldiers and middlemen are accused of cashing in (opens The Daily Sentinel in a new tab)
The Daily Sentinel — is The Daily Sentinel biased? Our profile of this outlet
- AP investigation shows how banned goods are smuggled into Gaza and millions of dollars change hands - Regional Media News (opens regionalmedianews.com in a new tab)
regionalmedianews.com — is regionalmedianews.com biased? Our profile of this outlet
- AP investigation shows how banned goods are smuggled into Gaza and millions of dollars change hands (opens The Batesville Daily Guard in a new tab)
The Batesville Daily Guard — is The Batesville Daily Guard biased? Our profile of this outlet
Not rated
2- Investigating How Prohibited Goods Are Smuggled Into Gaza and Millions of Dollars Change Hands (opens Independent Español in a new tab)
Independent Español — is Independent Español biased? Our profile of this outlet
- AP investigation shows how banned goods are smuggled into Gaza and millions of dollars change hands (opens pmg-ky3.com in a new tab)
pmg-ky3.com — is pmg-ky3.com biased? Our profile of this outlet
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