March 11, 2026 | 09:39 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Food prices in the Gaza Strip have increased in recent days following the closure of several border crossings amid the escalating war involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. Local residents have reported a rise in food prices and a decrease in supplies in the market.
As reported by Al Jazeera, Gazans have been flocking to the market to buy the remaining available food supplies that they can afford. Residents and traders have stated that the prices of various commodities have surged within days, while some staple goods have started to become scarce or even disappear from the market.
Supply Depends on the Borders
Almost all food, fuel, medicines, and other basic necessities enter Gaza through trucks from the border. When the crossings are closed or operate with limited capacity, the impact is quickly felt in the market, hospitals, and the water system.
Israel closed the Gaza crossings on February 28 when Israeli and American forces attacked Iran. This closure stopped the access of humanitarian aid to Gaza and halted the evacuation of patients in need of medical treatment outside the territory.
Israel later gradually reopened the Karem Abu Salem crossing for the entry of aid. However, the access remains limited, while the Rafah crossing that connects Gaza to Egypt remains closed.
The Regional Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) for the Eastern Mediterranean, Hanan Balkhy, stated that only about 200 aid trucks enter Gaza every day. However, the territory needs around 600 trucks per day to meet the population's needs.
Balkhy also mentioned that around 18,000 people, including children with injuries and chronic patients, are still awaiting evacuation from Gaza to receive medical care.
Meanwhile, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), as of March 6, the closure of the crossings has increased the prices of food and non-food items in Gaza. OCHA has stated that the current rate of aid truck entry is too low to maintain supplies, causing many goods to sell out within a few days.
Rising Prices of Vegetables and Staples
The price surge is clearly evident in the fresh vegetable commodities. The price of tomatoes, which was around $1.50 per kilogram about a month ago, is now approaching $4. Cucumbers and potatoes have also experienced a significant increase.
A buyer told Al Jazeera, "People can no longer afford to buy vegetables and fruits due to high prices caused by the war between Israel and Iran."
According to a report from Middle East Monitor, when the US and Israel's war against Iran began last week and the Gaza crossings were closed, panic spread in the densely populated area.
The price surge also affects small businesses. Ibrahim Madoukh, a father of eight from the al-Sahaba neighborhood in Gaza City, stated that the rise in raw material prices has forced him to increase the price of falafel that he sells to support his family.
"The economic situation in Gaza has been deteriorating since the war," Madoukh said. "Many people can no longer afford what is available in the markett." He mentioned that the price of onions, which used to be three shekels, has now reached 15 shekels per kilogram. The price of cooking oil has risen from 5 shekels to 13 shekels.
Madoukh has also increased the price of falafel from two pieces for 1 shekel to one piece for 2 shekels. However, many families still cannot afford to buy it.
"I only have enough supplies for one week," he said. "If the situation continues like this, we may face the same hunger we experienced before," he added.
Read: US-Israel War on Iran Destabilizes Middle East Politics
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