The Israeli blockade constricts the dining tables of Gazans

Israel's devastating war and blockade on the Gaza Strip have left many Palestinians struggling not only to find food, but also to afford the variety needed to maintain a healthy diet.

Despite the availability of some products in local markets, soaring prices, diminished purchasing power and restrictions on the entry of goods have left families relying on whatever they can obtain to stave off hunger.

For Umm Hadi al-Arja, a displaced mother of four from Beit Lahia in northern Gaza, feeding her children means baking bread in a clay oven fuelled by scraps of cardboard and making do with whatever supplies she can obtain.

The family lives in a dilapidated tent near Gaza City's coastline, relying partly on canned goods distributed through World Food Programme (WFP) food parcels.

Meat, chicken and fish have become unaffordable luxuries, leaving her struggling to provide her children with a balanced diet.

"I have four children, and I try to provide them with whatever food is available to us," al-Arja told The New Arab. "We bake bread and serve it with oil, za'atar or cheese. We do everything we can to ensure they don't go hungry, but I simply cannot provide everything they need."

Israeli restrictions on food supplies and soaring market prices have further narrowed her family's choices, she said.

"Despite the so-called ceasefire, we cannot obtain healthy, nutritious food. Even when items are available in the markets, they are unaffordable," she said. "We eat whatever we can manage to get, not what our bodies actually require."

High prices deepen the food crisis

Mahdi Shomer, who lives with his six children in a tent in Gaza City, faces the same dilemma.

He visits markets where many essential products are displayed, but often returns without buying what his family needs because he cannot afford the prices.

"When I go to the market, I see many of the items we need, but I cannot afford to buy them," Shomer told TNA. "The issue isn't always the availability of food, but rather our ability to pay for it."

His purchases are increasingly dictated by necessity rather than nutritional value.

"I now only buy enough to stave off hunger, rather than what the body actually needs," he said. "Sometimes we make do with just bread and a few simple items. We are forced to go without meat, chicken and fruit because they are too expensive."

The gap between food availability and purchasing power remains a major obstacle for households already dependent on humanitarian assistance.

According to Gaza's Government Media Office, 74,855 humanitarian aid trucks had entered the Strip out of the 219,000 expected under the ceasefire agreement that took effect on 10 October 2025, representing approximately 34 per cent of the agreed total.

A joint food security analysis by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the WFP and UNICEF found that approximately 1.4 million people, or nearly 67 per cent of Gaza's population, were facing critical or worse levels of acute food insecurity. This compared with approximately 1.6 million people, or 77 per cent of the population, at the end of 2025.

The analysis also found that approximately 212,000 people were experiencing emergency-level food insecurity.

Although some indicators had improved, the agencies warned that the situation remained fragile and that assistance did not always provide sufficient quantities or diversity to meet nutritional needs.

The destruction and restricted accessibility of agricultural land have further undermined local food production.

According to the analysis, more than 70 per cent of agricultural land was inaccessible, leaving only about 3 per cent usable and limiting farmers' ability to supply fresh vegetables and other produce.

Malnutrition risks extend beyond hunger

Palestinian nutritionist Mahmoud al-Saqqa warns that high food prices and limited choices are forcing Gaza's residents to rely on diets lacking essential nutrients.

"Many families depend on canned food and products high in salt, sugar and fat because fresh produce has become too expensive," he told TNA.

"People may eat enough to satisfy their hunger but still lack the proteins, vitamins and minerals their bodies need to stay healthy," he said, warning that poor nutrition could weaken immunity, particularly among children, older people and those with chronic illnesses.

"Malnutrition does not always mean being underweight. A person can consume enough calories but still lack essential nutrients because their diet is not varied," he added.

Children are particularly vulnerable, with some also forced to take on adult responsibilities.

Fourteen-year-old Mohammed al-Yazji lost his mother during the war, while his father was detained by the Israeli army, leaving him to care for his younger siblings.

"Every day, I think about what we will eat and how I will provide food for my siblings," Mohammed told TNA. "They are young and need many things. I try not to let them feel that we cannot meet their needs, but the situation is extremely difficult."

"We need a variety of food, not just bread and a few basic items. I wish I could provide meat and fruit, but sometimes we have to make do with whatever is available," he said.

Al-Saqqa explained that improving nutrition required access to affordable fresh food, including vegetables, fruits and protein-rich products, as well as targeted support for those at risk of malnutrition.

While humanitarian aid remains essential, addressing the crisis also requires allowing sufficient food supplies into Gaza, supporting local agriculture and making nutritious food affordable for families.