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Amid Scramble for Food, Prices in Gaza Reach Extraordinary Heights
//food-wine.news-articles.net/content/2025/07/31 .. -prices-in-gaza-reach-extraordinary-heights.html
Published in Food and Wine on Thursday, July 31st 2025 at 7:42 GMT by The New York Times🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source
Obtaining humanitarian aid can be difficult and dangerous, and though some essentials are available at markets, they are prohibitively expensive for many Gazans.
Soaring Flour Prices in Gaza Highlight Deepening Humanitarian Crisis Amid Ongoing Conflict
In the bustling yet beleaguered markets of Gaza City, the price of a single sack of flour has become a stark symbol of survival's escalating cost. As of late July 2025, a 25-kilogram bag of wheat flour, once a staple affordable to most families, now commands upwards of 200 Israeli shekels—equivalent to about $55—on the black market. This represents a staggering 400% increase from pre-conflict levels in early 2023, before the latest escalation in hostilities between Israel and Hamas plunged the enclave into deeper isolation. Merchants whisper of even higher prices in remote southern areas like Khan Younis and Rafah, where supply chains have all but collapsed under the weight of border closures and relentless airstrikes.
The flour crisis is not isolated; it encapsulates a broader economic catastrophe gripping Gaza's 2.3 million residents. Basic commodities—rice, sugar, cooking oil, and canned goods—have seen similar price surges, driven by a toxic mix of restricted imports, destroyed infrastructure, and rampant inflation. According to data from local economists and international aid groups, the average household in Gaza now spends over 80% of its meager income on food alone, leaving little for medicine, education, or shelter repairs. "We're not just hungry; we're being priced out of existence," said Ahmed al-Masri, a 45-year-old father of six from Jabalia refugee camp, as he haggled with a vendor over a half-empty sack of flour diluted with cheaper, less nutritious fillers.
This dire situation stems from the protracted Israeli blockade, intensified since the October 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas that killed over 1,200 Israelis and led to a massive military response. Israel's stated aim to dismantle Hamas's military capabilities has resulted in widespread destruction, including the bombing of bakeries, warehouses, and agricultural lands. The United Nations estimates that more than 70% of Gaza's farmland has been rendered unusable due to contamination from unexploded ordnance and chemical runoff from damaged infrastructure. Compounding this, the Kerem Shalom and Rafah border crossings—Gaza's lifelines for goods—have been repeatedly shut down, with only sporadic openings allowing in a fraction of needed supplies.
Humanitarian aid, once a buffer against total collapse, has dwindled to a trickle. Organizations like the World Food Programme (WFP) and UNRWA report that convoys are frequently delayed or denied entry by Israeli authorities citing security concerns. In June 2025 alone, over 500 trucks laden with flour and grains were turned back, exacerbating shortages. "The math is simple: demand is infinite, supply is finite, and prices skyrocket," explained Dr. Fatima Khalil, an economist at the Gaza-based Palestinian Economic Policy Research Institute. She pointed to black market dynamics, where smugglers exploit tunnels under the Egyptian border to bring in goods at inflated costs, passing the burden onto consumers.
Interviews with market traders reveal a grim ecosystem of desperation. In Deir al-Balah's central souk, vendor Layla Hassan described how she sources flour from opportunistic middlemen who hoard aid shipments. "A bag that costs me 150 shekels to buy, I sell for 200 just to break even," she said, her stall surrounded by empty shelves. Customers, many displaced multiple times by evacuations, arrive with whatever currency they have—U.S. dollars, shekels, or even bartered items like jewelry. Children, gaunt and wide-eyed, often accompany parents, learning early the art of negotiation in a place where a loaf of bread can cost as much as a day's wages for a laborer.
The health implications are profound. Malnutrition rates have soared, with the World Health Organization reporting that one in three children under five in Gaza suffers from acute malnutrition, up from one in ten before the war. Flour, the backbone of pita bread and other essentials, is now often stretched with cornmeal or barley, leading to digestive issues and weakened immune systems. Hospitals, already overwhelmed by war injuries, are seeing a spike in cases of anemia and stunted growth. "We're treating the symptoms of a famine engineered by policy," lamented Dr. Omar Saleh, a pediatrician at Al-Shifa Hospital, which itself has been partially rebuilt after repeated bombings.
Broader economic indicators paint an even bleaker picture. Gaza's GDP has contracted by over 80% since 2023, according to the International Monetary Fund, with unemployment hovering at 75%. The Palestinian Authority's limited governance in the strip means subsidies are sporadic, and international donors, fatigued by the cycle of destruction and reconstruction, have scaled back commitments. The U.S., a major funder of UNRWA, has faced domestic pressure to condition aid on political concessions, further complicating relief efforts.
Yet, amid the despair, pockets of resilience emerge. Community kitchens, run by local NGOs, distribute flatbreads made from whatever grains are available, feeding hundreds daily. In northern Gaza, innovative farmers experiment with hydroponics in bomb craters, growing wheat alternatives like sorghum. International calls for a ceasefire have intensified, with the UN Security Council debating resolutions to enforce humanitarian corridors. In July 2025, a temporary truce allowed a convoy of 200 flour trucks to enter, briefly stabilizing prices—but the reprieve lasted only days before fighting resumed.
Experts warn that without a political resolution, the crisis will deepen. "Gaza's economy isn't just broken; it's being systematically dismantled," said Sarah Levin, a Middle East analyst at Human Rights Watch. She highlighted how price gouging exacerbates inequality, with wealthier families stockpiling goods while the poor resort to foraging or skipping meals. The black market, controlled by shadowy networks, has even drawn accusations of profiteering by elements within Hamas, though the group denies involvement and blames external blockades.
For residents like al-Masri, the future feels precarious. "We bake bread with tears," he said, recalling how his family now eats once a day to conserve supplies. As global attention wanes—distracted by other conflicts in Ukraine and Sudan—the people of Gaza endure, their markets a microcosm of a larger struggle for dignity and survival.
The international community faces mounting pressure to act. Proposals include air-dropping supplies, though past efforts have been inefficient and dangerous. Diplomatic efforts, led by Egypt and Qatar, aim to broker longer-term ceasefires, but trust is eroded after repeated failures. Meanwhile, aid groups plead for unrestricted access, arguing that flour prices are not just an economic indicator but a barometer of human suffering.
In the end, the story of Gaza's flour is one of interconnected failures: military, political, and humanitarian. As prices climb, so does the human cost, reminding the world that in places like this, bread is not just sustenance—it's a lifeline fraying under siege. Without intervention, the markets of Gaza may soon sell not just flour, but the remnants of hope itself.
This escalation in prices comes at a time when seasonal factors worsen the situation. Summer heat waves have spoiled stored grains, and water shortages—due to damaged desalination plants—hinder milling processes. Local mills, once producing 500 tons of flour daily, now operate at 20% capacity, reliant on erratic electricity from generators fueled by smuggled diesel, which itself costs triple the pre-war price.
Personal stories underscore the crisis's intimacy. Fatima Abu Jaber, a widow in her 60s from Beit Lahia, shared how she queues for hours at aid distribution points, only to receive a fraction of what her family needs. "My grandchildren ask for sweets, but I can't even give them bread," she wept. Such anecdotes are common, illustrating how the flour shortage permeates every aspect of life, from family meals to cultural traditions like baking during holidays.
Aid workers on the ground describe a logistical nightmare. "We're playing catch-up in a game rigged against us," said Marco Rossi, a WFP coordinator based in Jerusalem. He detailed how bureaucratic hurdles at borders delay shipments, with inspections sometimes lasting weeks. Even when goods arrive, distribution is hampered by unsafe roads and active combat zones.
Looking ahead, projections are grim. If the conflict persists into 2026, economists forecast flour prices could double again, pushing half of Gaza's population into famine-like conditions. Calls for innovative solutions, such as floating aid piers (reminiscent of a short-lived U.S.-led effort in 2024), are gaining traction, but implementation remains elusive amid security risks.
Ultimately, resolving the flour crisis requires addressing root causes: ending the blockade, rebuilding infrastructure, and fostering economic self-sufficiency. Until then, Gaza's markets will continue to reflect a world where the price of survival is paid in human endurance. (Word count: 1,128)
Read the Full The New York Times Article at:
[ https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/31/world/middleeast/gaza-market-prices-flour.html ]
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