After sealing it off, Israel gradually reopens Gaza crossing amid war on Iran

Palestinians in the Gaza Strip continue to grapple with a worsening humanitarian and economic crisis as the US-Israel war on Iran expands.

After sealing the coastal enclave a few days ago, Israel announced, on Monday, it will begin gradually reopening the Kerem Shalom crossing starting Tuesday for the gradual entry of humanitarian aid under security restrictions.

In a press statement, Israeli Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) Maj. Gen. Yoram Halevi said, "Residents of Gaza, we inform you that starting tomorrow, Tuesday, the Kerem Shalom crossing will be opened for the gradual entry of humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip."

He added that the aid would be allowed in under security measures to ensure the safety of those present at the crossing from both sides, and that assistance would be brought in according to needs identified on the ground through the United Nations and international organisations.

Halevi said Israel would continue to permit the entry of aid designated directly for Gaza's residents, and not to Hamas, which he accused of attempting to seize assistance and benefit from it.

Despite the announcement, uncertainty remains high among Gaza's 2.3 million residents, many of whom had rushed to markets to secure daily necessities.

Surging uncertainty

The increase in demand, combined with already limited supplies after more than two years of Israel's genocidal war, quickly drove prices upward, deepening hardship for families already facing economic strain.

Separately speaking with The New Arab, local residents said that prices of flour, sugar, cooking oil and canned goods have surged markedly since the closure was announced, with some basic items briefly vanishing from store shelves as residents rushed to buy supplies.

They added that even with the planned reopening of Kerem Shalom, concerns persist over how quickly and in what quantities supplies will enter, and whether the gradual process will be sufficient to stabilise markets.

"The prices of sugar and oil have risen abnormally in just a few days, and shops now limit the amount each person can buy," Fatima Abdullah, a mother of four from Gaza City, told TNA.

"Even simple things we used to take for granted are suddenly out of reach. Families are forced to scramble for basic necessities every day, and the lines at shops are growing longer. It reminds us painfully of past famines, but this time we had no preparation," she said.

"We didn't have the chance to stockpile anything. The closures and the ongoing war make every day uncertain, and every decision feels like a gamble for our children's survival. There's a constant fear that tomorrow, even what we manage to buy today, will disappear from the shelves," she added.

Local authorities in Gaza, including the Chambers of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture, urged merchants to exercise restraint.

In a press statement, the Chambers of Commerce called on citizens and businesses alike to "act responsibly, support solidarity, and protect society's economic and social stability."

But on the ground, enforcement efforts reveal a harsher reality. Police authorities reported 46 arrests and 11 shop closures in recent operations targeting price gouging and hoarding, signalling the deepening economic strain on Gaza's residents.

Markets remain tense, as limited supplies collide with surging demand, creating a chaotic environment for both sellers and buyers.

"Some merchants are exploiting the crisis to double prices, while families can only buy daily necessities," Mahmoud al-Najjar, a small shop owner in central Gaza, told TNA.

"People come to us hoping to find basic goods, but shortages are everywhere. Many are desperate, especially mothers and elderly residents who cannot wait in long queues. Sometimes fights break out over small items, and tempers flare because everyone is worried about what they will have to feed their families," the 45-year-old father of three said.

He added that "the enforcement measures help a little, but they cannot stop the panic completely. The fear of scarcity is everywhere, and it affects the whole community."

For Mohammed Abu Khaled, a resident of the Rimal neighbourhood, the situation is "catastrophic".

"Prices fluctuate wildly every day. Flour, oil, and sugar are nearly gone. Ramadan meals are becoming almost impossible to provide. Every crisis elsewhere hits Gaza hardest. We have no strategic reserves, and no one protects us here," he lamented to TNA.

Ramadan struggles

As Gaza approaches the middle of the holy month of Ramadan, residents are enduring a double crisis: the closure of crossings and soaring prices linked to the war with Iran.

Families are forced to purchase food daily at inflated prices, while storing fresh goods is nearly impossible due to electricity outages and fuel shortages.

"Ramadan is very hard this year. We usually store meat and vegetables for Iftar and Suhoor, but electricity is mostly unavailable, and food spoils quickly," Eman Jaber, a housewife from al-Mughazi refugee camp in the central Gaza, told TNA.

"Buying daily at high prices strains the budget. Ramadan should be a time of celebration, but the blockade and high prices make life far from normal," she said.

Palestinian experts warned that these conditions increase psychological stress, particularly for vulnerable households, who must choose between daily purchases or risking spoilage and higher costs.

"Gaza always pays the price for regional wars. Every conflict far away punishes us, as if we are pawns in a game we cannot influence," Sami al-Issawi, a resident of Shati refugee camp, told TNA.

"The crisis affects every aspect of life: overcrowded homes, densely populated neighbourhoods, and limited income sources amplify stress," he said.

Local estimates suggest that nearly half of Gaza's population—the most vulnerable—faces heightened risks of hunger.

Palestinian economists highlight that "closing crossings and stopping goods flows exacerbates scarcity and panic, enabling illegal price hikes."

Social solidarity

Despite the widespread hardship, some merchants in Gaza are taking deliberate steps to ease the burden on residents. Many have reduced profit margins on essential goods, offered limited discounts, or prioritised selling basic items to vulnerable families, even as they themselves face the pressures of soaring wholesale prices and supply shortages.

Their efforts, though small compared with the scale of the crisis, signal a form of social solidarity that has long been part of Gazan society.

Mona Hamdan, a housewife, remarked to TNA that "some shop owners are trying to help families, even when they could raise prices to earn more. They prioritise those who cannot afford to buy large amounts, and that makes a difference for us. Everyone buys what they can, but not everyone has the means, so these small acts of fairness really matter."

"Social solidarity is crucial to survive the current crisis. Cooperation between citizens and merchants, along with support from local authorities to prevent monopolistic practices, is necessary to mitigate suffering," she said.

"In Gaza, the community often relies on the goodwill of its shopkeepers, who share what little they can, even under difficult circumstances. Without their efforts, the blockade, shortages, and price surges would feel unbearable," she added.