On 16 August, Israeli forces confiscated 23 tons of chocolate bars headed to the occupied Gaza Strip, claiming the candy would be used to fund Hamas military operations.

The shipment was confiscated at the Nitzana border crossing as it was coming from Egypt.

According to Israeli officials, a joint investigation by military intelligence, the National Bureau for Counterterror financing, and the Tax Authority’s National Center for Cargo Inspection, linked the chocolate bars to two companies designated as terrorist organizations in Gaza, the al-Mutahidun Currency Exchange and Arab al-Sin.

The probe concluded that the candy was going to be sold by Islamic resistance movement Hamas to “generate income” and fund so-called “terrorist” activities.

The confiscation order was signed by Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz.

“Israel will continue acting to prevent the empowerment of Hamas, who is building up military force instead of taking care of the people of the [Gaza] Strip who are collapsing from the economic burden,” Gantz said in a official statement.

Two million Palestinians live in the occupied Gaza Strip, a region often referred to as the world’s largest open-air prison. In recent months, they have faced tougher Israeli restrictions over the entry of goods.

Around 1,500 businesses in Gaza were destroyed or damaged during the most recent Israeli bombing campaign in May, with officials claiming a staggering $479m in losses.