Hamas' decision to impose new taxes on products coming from the Palestinian Authority territory in the West Bank, through the Kerem Shalom crossing, is provoking outrage on Gaza Street.

Traders, organizations and consumers see this move as deepening the division in the Palestinian camp. Gaza traders interviewed by the Arab media did not spare their criticism of Hamas. For example, one of the merchants said that the goods he brought from the West Bank were detained on trucks at the crossing, on the grounds that Hamas had not paid the new tax.

Hamas' decision includes a 17% tax on 24 goods including mineral water, soft drinks, juices and French fries produced by Palestinian factories in the West Bank. Hamas, for its part, claims that it took this step in response to the Palestinian Authority's taxation of goods from the Gaza Strip.