Hamas Raid Traders In Gaza Because Food Prices Rise In The Aftermath Of The Israeli Blockade

JAKARTA - Israel's aid delivery blockade to the Gaza Strip has sparked price increases and fears of food shortages.

This condition prompted sanctions from the Hamas authorities against traders, according to Hamas sources and witnesses.

Members of Hamas-run police forces were deployed in local markets across Gaza, confirming their presence on the ground despite Israel's 15-month air and ground strikes against Palestinian militant groups.

They interrogated and detained traders, ordered them not to raise prices during the deadlock over the ceasefire deal, and confiscated supplies which were then resold at lower prices, four sources and witnesses said.

The local government also urged residents to report violations committed by traders, saying food supplies in Gaza would only last two weeks.

"Punishing junior sellers in the market is a good thing, but Hamas must act against big traders who control what we eat," a witness said.

Israel before announcing on Sunday it stopped the entry of goods into Gaza, citing a dispute with Hamas over how to continue the US-backed gradual ceasefire that halted heavy fighting in January.

Hamas urged mediators to pressure Israel to start the second phase of talks and reopen Gaza crossings.

Israeli foreign ministers say Hamas has used aid to continue fighting Israel. Israel says Gaza has enough food for months.

But humanitarian agencies say supplies of food, medicines and shelters in Gaza are limited and neglected aid may be damaged.

Philippe Lazzarini, head of the UNN Palestinian aid agency UNRWA, said the suspension of aid deliveries by Israel threatened the lives of 2.3 million Gazans, who were exhausted by the war.

These basic aids and services are non-negotiable. They should not be used as weapons of war," Lazzarini said in a post on X.

In a soup kitchen in Khan Younis, Gaza, where dozens of children holding pans lined up to receive soup, organizers said suspension of delivery would have an impact on providing free food for 20,000 people.

The food is meant to cover Ramadan's fasting month, which starts on Saturday.

However, the traders raised the price of meat, so the menu had to be changed.

The kitchen administration has prepared plans for the month of Ramadan, but the closure of the crossing interferes with all of these plans, said one of the managers of the public kitchen, Abu Omar.

"On the first day of Ramadan, we served about 1,200 to 1,400 servings of meat and rice, but the closure of crossings and lost goods in the market caused us to present 'mujadara' (rice and miju-ju dish) and soup today," Abu Omar said.