Gaza residents are gripped by fear as food shortages and soaring prices take hold following Israel’s decision to halt aid entry, a move aimed at pressuring Hamas to agree to ceasefire extension terms.
The impact was immediate, sending shockwaves through markets across the war-torn enclave. Prices of essential goods skyrocketed, despite local efforts to stabilize them.
“People are panicking,” said Belal al-Helou, a shopper in Gaza City. “Everyone is rushing to buy supplies, and prices have surged.”
With border crossings closed, the cost of basic staples continues to climb. Sugar, for instance, now costs 10-12 shekels per kilogram (roughly $3)—more than double its pre-war price.
Adly al-Ghandour, another shopper, warned that if the blockade persists, prices could rise by “200 percent.”
Market Struggles Amid Crisis
Despite recent imports during a temporary ceasefire that began on January 19, markets remain under pressure. While shops still carry food and Ramadan decorations, residents worry supplies will run out.
Meanwhile, humanitarian organizations are also feeling the impact. Caroline Seguin, emergency coordinator for Doctors Without Borders, confirmed that aid trucks expected on Sunday were turned away.
“We managed to bring in some supplies during the six-week ceasefire, but that was far from enough,” Seguin said, highlighting the dire need for medical and water filtration equipment, which Israel classifies as “dual-use” items that could be repurposed for military purposes.
She emphasized that humanitarian aid “shouldn’t be a bargaining chip in ceasefire negotiations.”
Mounting Desperation
In northern Gaza, displaced families struggle to survive in makeshift tents erected amid the ruins of their former homes.
According to Hamas official Osama Hamadan, only 15 of the 65,000 mobile homes promised during the ceasefire have actually arrived. Israel’s aid coordination office did not respond to inquiries about the discrepancy.
With food supplies dwindling, prices are spiking. Seguin reported that egg prices alone have surged by “150 percent.” But more than just the cost of living, she noted a deepening sense of despair among Gazans.
“They are completely demoralized,” she said. “They fear a return to the November-December crisis when bread and meat were nearly impossible to find.”
Political Deadlock
While humanitarian conditions deteriorate, negotiations between Israel and Hamas remain stalled. Israel seeks to extend the first phase of the truce, while Hamas insists on moving to the second phase, which calls for an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a permanent ceasefire.
Amid the diplomatic deadlock, Israeli government spokesman David Mencer accused Hamas of stockpiling supplies, claiming the group has “enough food to fuel an obesity epidemic.”
Meanwhile, Gazans brace for worsening conditions as they navigate an uncertain future.
