A video has gone viral on social media showing a Palestinian father, Mohammed Jawad, giving his daughter, Rafif, a packet of Parle-G biscuits, which she loves. However, the biscuits, which normally cost around Rs 100 in international markets, were purchased for over Rs 2,300 due to the severe food shortages and inflated prices in Gaza. The region is struggling with a humanitarian crisis, with the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine leading to a steep rise in prices of everyday items.
The video highlights the issue of food scarcity and rising costs in Gaza, where essential items like sugar, onions, and cooking oil are being sold at shockingly high rates. The price of flour has soared by 5,000 percent, and cooking oil by 1,200 percent, since March 18, when Israeli forces resumed offensive operations in the region. International aid agencies warn that famine is now imminent in Gaza, with around 470,000 people, about 22 percent of the population, having entered the “Catastrophe” phase, marked by starvation, death, and extreme levels of malnutrition.
The high price of Parle-G biscuits in Gaza is mainly due to extreme scarcity and inflated rates amid looting and limited food availability. The biscuits, which were meant to be distributed for free as part of humanitarian aid, are being resold on the black market at high prices. Dr. Khaled Alshawwa, a surgeon based in Gaza City, explained that only a small number of people receive the aid, making such products rare commodities that are often resold at high prices.
The situation in Gaza is dire, with the population of around two million almost entirely dependent on international aid. The ongoing Israeli offensive has wiped out most of the region’s ability to produce food, and critical support systems like community kitchens have collapsed. The United Nations has warned that the aid currently reaching Gaza is still far from enough, and Israel has accused Hamas of taking control of aid and using it for its own purposes. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to worsen, with no end in sight to the conflict and the suffering of its people.