Disappearance of a basket of price fluctuations in Gaza markets
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Basic goods disappeared from Gaza Strip markets early Saturday morning, coinciding with the start of the US-Israeli aggression against Iran. Markets are experiencing confusion and sharp price fluctuations, as Palestinians rush to secure their basic needs.
This development comes amid a chronic shortage of goods entering the Strip since the resumption of imports following the end of the war on Gaza last October. Israel had been allowing an average of 250 truckloads of goods into the Strip daily, despite the actual needs of the population exceeding 1,000 truckloads per day. This has maintained a policy of rationing and directly impacted the stability of market supply.
The severe shortage of supplies has led to record price increases, more than tripling pre-war levels, with significant fluctuations since the early morning and the complete disappearance of some items.
The price of a kilogram of sugar rose from five shekels (the dollar is equivalent to 3.13 shekels) to 25 shekels, potatoes from 3 to 9 shekels, tomatoes from 10 to 16 shekels, chicken from 23 to 32 shekels, and frozen fish from 27 to 38 shekels, while the price of bread doubled from 3 to 6 shekels.
This comes amidst a severe decline in purchasing power, leaving a large segment of the population unable to meet their basic needs and exacerbating public anxiety.
In this context, the Supply Investigations Department and the relevant police departments have begun an intensive deployment in cooperation with the teams of the Ministry of National Economy, and have started field tours of markets, commercial centers and shops in all governorates of the sector; to monitor the availability of goods, monitor prices and prevent monopoly and exploitation.
