Gaza: The Israeli occupation forces have continued to shutter all border crossings with the Gaza Strip for the seventh consecutive day and blithely blocked the entry of life-saving aid and commercial merchandise. This move cast a heavy shadow over the Gazans, who are still healing from the unprecedented Israeli aggression that lasted for more than 15 months, leaving tens of thousands of casualties. It coincided with the advent of the holy month of Ramadan and consequently aggravated the Palestinians’ tribulation, making the scene far more complex and tragic in terms of providing the requirements for the holy month.

According to Qatar News Agency, as the eighth day of Ramadan passes for Gazans, the ongoing blockade on food and essential supplies has led to the erosion of many Ramadan traditions, with fears of a return to famine and the disappearance of staple goods, heavily consumed during the holy month, persisting as Israel continues to close the crossings. Overall, the shopping activity in Gaza markets has weakened due to shortages of fundamental merchandise coupled with skyrocketing prices as a plethora of items have disappeared, while prices for essential Ramadan foods like sugar, oil, rice, vegetables, and fruits have surged, leaving most Palestinian families unable to afford necessities.

The correspondent from QNA toured some markets and stumbled on shortages of meat and poultry, as key commodities that were being delivered by traders, given the severe shortages of fresh meat, after the Israeli offensive eliminated most dairy and poultry farms that supplied the domestic market with meat throughout the year, especially during Ramadan. Shaher Al Helo, a meat trader and importer, confirmed that frozen meat disappeared from markets after the closure of the Kerem Shalom border crossing, with remaining supplies being overpriced and unaffordable for residents who endured the brunt of the war and its severe economic impact.

Speaking to the QNA correspondent, Al Helo highlighted that during Ramadan, demand for meat normally surges as families prepare a wide variety of dishes, alongside feasts and gatherings that Gaza families are accustomed to organizing for each other during the holy month. The disappearance of meat in markets following this closure deprived the people of proper nutrition and the ability to perform charitable deeds by offering Iftars for those fasting, notably the disappearance of cooking oil in many charitable stocks “Takias”, as well as cooking gas, he said.

Mohammad Shaheen, one of the organizers of charity kitchens distributing food to displaced people and needy families in Gaza, said that as soon as the supply of cooking gas stopped following the closure of crossings, a cooking gas crisis emerged, which had been used to prepare large amounts of food in the charity kitchens, and ultimately, this work was immediately brought to a standstill. Shaheen stressed that some quantities of cooking gas had been secured following the ceasefire, but all ran out, adding that enormous quantities of gas are consumed during Ramadan. However, problems started to emerge with the closure of crossings, which dramatically blocked the entry of cooking gas, especially at Takias, resulting in the stoppage of charitable works.

Those Takias worsen the living situation for families in shelters, especially since the displaced people rely heavily on meals during Ramadan given the severe shortages of food items coupled with skyrocketing prices, Shaheen noted. Head of the Government Media Office in Gaza, Salama Maarouf, told QNA that the Israeli moves to shutter the crossings are a war crime and crime against humanity which largely impact the humanitarian reality especially during Ramadan, stressing that Gazans entirely rely on food parcels offered by various relief sectors, due to the consequences of crippled works and production because of the Israeli aggression.

Maarouf asserted that municipalities have stopped providing Palestinians with water, as they are unable to either operate wells that function with fuel or provide drinking water from desalination plants that likewise depend on fuel to function. Following the first phase of the ceasefire deal, Israel closed the Kerem Shalom crossing on March 2, halting the entry of humanitarian aid into Gaza, thereby opening a Pandora’s box, and ultimately leading to the suspension of food, shelter, and fuel supplies, in addition to disrupting domestic and international relief efforts.

Since Oct. 7, 2023, Israel’s genocidal war on Gaza destroyed infrastructure, resulting in approximately 160,000 casualties, and left around 11,000 missing under the rubble. On January 19, a ceasefire and hostage exchange agreement between Hamas and Israel began. Brokered by Qatar, Egypt, and supported by the United States, the first phase ended after 42 days, but Israel refuses to negotiate the start of the second and third phases.