Gaza food prices rise after Israel halts commercial shipments

Prices of basic food items are rising in Gaza after commercial shipments were halted for a fifth consecutive day, according to residents and market traders. The disruption has affected Gaza City and other parts of the enclave, where families are already under severe economic strain. People who can afford to do so are buying extra supplies in case the closure continues and shortages deepen.

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The restrictions were announced on Wednesday, when Israel said commercial goods would no longer enter Gaza. The reported halt has come amid a dispute over fees involving Palestinian merchants and Hamas, which still has some authority in the strip. Residents said the effect on markets was visible within two or three days, with prices moving up quickly for staples such as flour, eggs, onions and avocados.

One resident from Jabalia in northern Gaza said a carton of eggs that had cost 35 shekels was now selling for between 60 and 70 shekels. He also said the price of onions had risen from five or six shekels per kilogramme to between eight and 10 shekels, while avocados had roughly doubled in price. He said he was now buying smaller quantities because of the increases, and warned that prices could climb further if the crossings remain closed for another 10 to 15 days.

The immediate impact is being felt most sharply by households without the means to stock up in advance. Residents said those who cannot buy in bulk will be forced to keep purchasing food at higher daily prices if the border closure continues. That raises the risk of worsening food insecurity in a territory where many families have already been pushed into poverty and where incomes have fallen sharply since the war that began in October 2023.

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The latest disruption matters because commercial imports are a key part of Gaza's fragile supply chain, alongside aid deliveries and limited local market activity. When commercial goods stop entering, traders often face shortages and price spikes that quickly reach consumers. In a place where many people already depend on irregular access to food and other essentials, even a short interruption can have immediate humanitarian consequences.

The reporting describes a recurring pattern in Gaza, where uncertainty over the crossings is often followed by higher prices. That cycle has become more severe since the war began, as Israel has tightened its siege and economic activity has contracted. The current halt is therefore not only a market issue but also part of the wider struggle over access, movement and control at Gaza's borders.

For now, it remains unclear how long the commercial shipment halt will last or whether the dispute over fees will be resolved soon. The main question is whether the closure will deepen shortages and push prices higher in the coming days. What to watch next is whether crossings reopen, whether merchants can resume deliveries, and how quickly households run out of the supplies they are now trying to secure.

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