The Israeli blockade on Gaza has created a dire food shortage. Images have surfaced of Palestinians struggling for food at a distribution center in Beit Lahia, located in northern Gaza. According to the BBC, ten different aid agencies have stated that the humanitarian situation in Gaza is rapidly deteriorating.
Israel’s halt of aid to Gaza has become one of the most controversial aspects of the ongoing war. On March 2, Israel closed all routes for delivering food and humanitarian assistance, aiming to pressure Hamas into releasing the remaining hostages. Israel claims the blockade is a response to allegations that Hamas has been stealing aid supplies.
Israel and the United States argue that a new aid distribution system is necessary. However, the United Nations and its humanitarian partners have rejected their proposal, accusing them of weaponizing humanitarian aid. They assert that there is already strict monitoring in place for the entry and distribution of supplies during wartime.
Earlier this week, a report by the global food monitoring group, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC), stated that at least 500,000 people in Gaza are facing famine, and all 2.1 million residents are experiencing acute food insecurity. The report highlights the risk of famine in Gaza due to Israel’s expanding military operations, aid blockades, and the massive displacement of civilians.
However, Israeli government spokesperson David Mencer has denied the existence of a food crisis in Gaza. “There is food in Gaza—that is our understanding,” he said. “More than 25,000 aid trucks entered during the last ceasefire. Even now, markets in Gaza are open, so there is food and no famine.”
During a previous two-month ceasefire, hundreds of aid trucks entered Gaza daily. However, with most of the population now dependent on aid agencies, food stocks have rapidly dwindled.
According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), around 65 community kitchens were operational as of Wednesday, with three of them providing meals for about 249,000 people, as reported by the BBC.
Although some fresh food is still available for purchase in Gaza, its prices are exorbitantly high and unaffordable for most people. Much of the arable land is located in areas now occupied by the Israeli military. Some fishermen have been selling seafood. Shops and markets still carry limited quantities of dried and canned goods, and even expired food items are being sold. According to the BBC, locals have reported that the price of flour has risen 50 times higher than during the ceasefire period.
“You’re Lucky if You Eat Once a Day”
Salma Al-Tawil, a humanitarian support manager for the Norwegian Refugee Council, spoke to the BBC about the latest situation in Gaza City. “I feel so weak from hunger that I can barely lift my head,” she said in a voice note from Gaza.
She stated that people consider themselves lucky if they can eat once a day. “If someone eats once a day now, they are considered lucky. This is not just the case for a few—it’s the reality for everyone in Gaza,” she said. “Most families now have no food at home, and many cannot afford to buy any.”
According to her, as of Thursday, the price of one kilogram of flour (often containing insects) was $12, one kilogram of rice was $20, and one liter of cooking oil cost $30. There is no cooking gas, and families are burning furniture and clothing just to cook small amounts of food. “Children cry from hunger, and their mothers cry too—because they have nothing to feed their kids,” she added.
