Under an unrelenting Israeli siege lasting more than two months, the Gaza Strip is witnessing catastrophic price spikes on basic goods, pushing its 2.4 million residents to the edge of famine.
اضافة اعلان
Prices for staple items are unprecedented:
Flour: $9.45/kg (a 50kg sack = $400)
Potatoes and onions: $10.80/kg
Tomatoes: $7.30/kg
Eggplant: $8.10/kg
Fuel: $27/liter
Civilians now resort to bartering, trading scarce household items like coffee for small amounts of food. "This kilo of flour equals a day of life," said one resident, pointing to worm-infested flour he had no choice but to feed his children.
Desperation is visible everywhere—children eat meals made from spoiled flour mixed with rice or pasta, just to sleep without hunger. Aid kitchens have shut down due to lack of fuel and ingredients, and NGOs warn that humanitarian operations are collapsing.
The World Central Kitchen suspended operations this week, citing empty reserves and Israel's ongoing closure of aid crossings. It had previously delivered over 130 million meals.
Meanwhile, the International Committee of the Red Cross described Gaza as "hell on earth," warning of a total breakdown of aid efforts unless the blockade is lifted.
Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa has officially declared Gaza a famine zone, echoing warnings by the World Bank, UN agencies, and international rights groups.
This human catastrophe unfolds alongside mass displacement, with over 90% of Gaza’s population forced from their homes, many multiple times, now surviving in overcrowded shelters or open air, amidst the spread of disease.
Despite some American-led initiatives to drop aid, skepticism remains high, especially as analysts believe these efforts facilitate Israeli goals of depopulating northern Gaza.
Since October 7, 2023, Israel’s war on Gaza has killed or injured over 172,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, with 11,000+ missing. The scale of destruction is unprecedented in modern conflicts.
