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Food prices soar in Gaza as Israeli blockade tightens Food prices skyrocket under Gaza blockade
Food prices in the Gaza Strip have surged a staggering 100-fold, according to United Nations reports, following Israel’s decision on March 2 to cut off the flow of humanitarian aid into the besieged territory. The blockade, implemented amid an already strained ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas, has sparked international condemnation, with many accusing Israel of weaponizing hunger.
The ceasefire, signed on January 19, initially outlined a phased withdrawal of Israeli Occupation Forces (IOF) from Gaza. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has demanded further concessions from Hamas, including the release of additional Israeli hostages, while delaying its withdrawal commitments. Reports suggest the Israeli government intends to extend the first phase of the ceasefire through Ramadan, exacerbating tensions.
Accusations of collective punishment
Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri has denounced Israel’s actions as “collective punishment” and labeled the aid blockade a “war crime.” In an interview with Russian news agency Sputnik, Zuhri stated, “We affirm that these pressures are meaningless, and we will not allow the occupation to impose a new format that goes beyond the signed agreement.”
Human rights organizations and UN bodies have echoed these criticisms, warning of catastrophic consequences for Gaza’s population, which has endured a 17-year-long blockade. Edouard Beigbeder, UNICEF’s Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa, described the situation as dire, urging the immediate resumption of humanitarian aid. “The aid restrictions announced yesterday will severely compromise lifesaving operations for civilians,” Beigbeder said. “It is imperative that the ceasefire remains in place and that aid is allowed to flow freely so we can continue to scale up the humanitarian response.”
Rising rhetoric and dire warnings
Israeli government spokesperson David Mencer dismissed the mounting criticism, claiming that Hamas has “enough food to spark an obesity epidemic” and alleging that “no one in Hamas is facing hunger.” These remarks have been widely condemned as dismissive of the dire humanitarian situation on the ground.
The blockade, which has now extended to include threats of cutting off electricity and water supplies, has drawn comparisons to the conditions during previous escalations in Gaza. The territory, home to over two million residents, has endured years of deteriorating living conditions, with the UN warning as early as 2018 that Gaza would be “unlivable” by 2020.
A humanitarian crisis unfolds
The halt of aid deliveries is expected to have devastating consequences, particularly for children and families already struggling to survive under the blockade. The United Nations and humanitarian organizations continue to call for urgent action to prevent further suffering in the region.
As the international community watches closely, the humanitarian crisis in Gaza underscores the fragility of the ceasefire agreement and raises pressing questions about the long-term prospects for peace and stability in the region.
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