Why Gaza Faces a Food Crisis Despite International Aid

Gaza, home to 2.3 million Palestinians, is experiencing a catastrophic food crisis that seems to worsen by the day.

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The reasons for this are complex, but the primary cause is Israel's ongoing blockade, which has been in place since the start of March 2025. Despite significant international humanitarian aid pouring into Gaza, the blockade is preventing it from reaching the people who need it most, resulting in extreme shortages of food, medicine, and basic necessities.

THE IMPACT OF THE BLOCKADE ON SUPPLY CHAINS On March 1, 2025, Israel imposed a total blockade on the Gaza Strip, sealing off its borders and cutting off essential supplies to the region. Since then, the situation has spiraled out of control. Food supplies, which had been stockpiled during a ceasefire earlier in the year, are now nearly depleted, and the emergency aid that once sustained the population is rapidly running out. According to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), the price of basic foodstuffs in Gaza has skyrocketed, making it nearly impossible for most people to afford them. For example, a 25-kilogram sack of flour that once cost $6 now costs $60. A liter of cooking oil, typically priced at $1.50, now costs $10. These price hikes are exacerbated by the blockade, which has choked the supply of foodstuffs and driven up prices exponentially.