Gaza Markets Overflow With Fruit, But Residents Lack Funds to Buy

Despite an apparent return of abundance to Gaza's markets, with a wide variety of high-quality fruits available, Palestinian residents are struggling to afford them. Sky News Arabia reported on the dire situation of consumers, quoting a 39-year-old mother named Tahani who expressed distress over her children's constant requests for fruit. She recalled that mangoes, which previously cost around 3 shekels per kilogram before the war, now range from 13 to 15 shekels, a price she cannot afford despite her husband's disappearance last summer while waiting for humanitarian aid. She is currently living with her children in a tent near Gaza's port after fleeing the north.

Another resident, 37-year-old Rabia Ahmad, lives with his wife and six children in a tent in Khan Younis's al-Mawasi area after their home in Rafah was destroyed. He now buys fruit in small quantities, if at all, due to budget constraints. Ahmad stated that 100 shekels, which used to cover a week's worth of groceries for his family before the war, now only buys a small amount of food.

Sufyan al-Kudra, a 37-year-old vendor, observed that customers who once bought kilograms of produce now ask for only one or two pieces. He noted that reduced local production has increased reliance on goods entering through Israeli crossings, contributing to high prices. Traders frequently encounter customers who inquire about prices, then reduce their orders significantly.

Economist Ahmad Abu Kamar estimated that Gaza requires over 700 trucks of goods daily but receives only 200 to 250. He indicated that approximately 70% of incoming trucks carry commercial goods and 30% humanitarian aid. Abu Kamar explained that the costs associated with importing commercial goods inflate their prices, while household incomes have plummeted. He projected that unemployment exceeds 80%, poverty is at 90%, and about 95% of families are heavily reliant on humanitarian aid.