Gaza families fear food shortages as Israel halts commercial shipments

Gaza residents report rising prices after commercial shipments stopped, while families unable to afford extra supplies fear further shortages if the closure continues. Save Share Gaza City, Gaza —Prices of basic goods are rising daily in Gaza, as Israeli restrictions on the import of commercial goods entered their fifth consecutive day. Familiesalready suffering from the siege on the enclavehave started stocking up on goods they can still find, for fear of imminent shortages and continued price increases. The cost of flour, eggs, onions and other staples has sharply increased since Wednesday, when Israel said that commercial goods would no longer enter Gaza. This comes amid a dispute over fees involving Palestinian merchants and Hamas, which still has some authority in the strip. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza have been plunged into poverty since Israel began its genocidal war on Gaza in October 2023. The price of basic goods has soared, as incomes have shrunk due to the war and Israel’s tightened siege. Residents without the means to buy in bulk will have to continue to purchase food when they can. They will be worst hit by the daily price rises if the border remains closed. The impact of the Israeli import restrictions is playing out in marketplaces, which are slightly busier than usual. Ismail al-Barawi, 52, from Jabalia in northern Gaza, noticed a significant rise in prices within two or three days of the crossings being closed on Wednesday. He described a recurring cycle of uncertainty in Gaza over the status of the crossings, which is usually followed by higher prices. Al-Barawi said a carton of eggs that had cost 35 shekels ($11.34) was now selling for between 60 and 70 shekels ($18 to $21). The price of a kilogramme of onions had risen from five or six shekels ($1.50–$1.80) to between eight and 10 shekels ($2.40–$3), while a kilogramme of avocados had increased from seven or eight shekels ($2.10–$2.40) to around 15 shekels ($4.50). “These increases happened in just two or three days,” he said, voicing concern about what prices would be if the crossings remain closed for another 10 to 15 days. The increases have forced him to buy smaller quantities of what he needs. Instead of a full carton of 30 eggs, he might buy only four or five. “Today, everyone is trading at the expense of the people. There is no mercy,” he said....