A recent video shared on social media has gone viral, showing a young girl in Gaza receiving a packet of Parle-G biscuits, her favorite treat, from her father. The shocking part of the video is that the father claims to have paid a hefty sum of €24 (approximately ₹2,300) for the packet, which is a significant markup from its usual price in India. The video was shared by a user named Mohammed Jawad, who wrote that the price of the biscuits had jumped from €1.5 to over €24, but he couldn’t deny his daughter Rafif her favorite treat.
The video has sparked a wave of sympathy and concern on social media, with many users tagging the Indian Minister of External Affairs, S Jaishankar, and urging him to send biscuits to the child. Some users also suggested that India should send more food and medicines to Palestine. The steep pricing of the biscuits is reportedly due to the black market in Gaza, where humanitarian aid is often sold at high prices due to scarcity.
According to a report by NDTV, the closure of borders for over three months has led to a shortage of basic needs, causing prices to skyrocket. A surgeon based in Gaza City, Dr. Khaled Alshawwa, explained that the problem lies not with the original suppliers or taxation, but with the scarcity of goods, which allows them to be sold at high prices on the black market. The doctor noted that only a minority of people receive humanitarian aid, and when some people are able to get their hands on scarce goods, they are sold at unaffordable prices.
The video has brought attention to the harsh realities of life in Gaza, where even basic necessities like food are a luxury. The incident has also highlighted the importance of humanitarian aid and the need for countries to provide support to those affected by conflict. The company that manufactures Parle-G biscuits has been contacted for a response, and the report will be updated accordingly. The video has sparked a emotional response from social media users, with many expressing their sadness and shock at the situation.