Attachments
Key findings - Gaza Strip
The first week of March started with a wave of panic and noticeable increases in the prices of food items in the Gazan markets with the Israeli announcement of closing the commercial crossings at the start of confrontation with Iran. The situation stabilized a bit after it was later announced by the Israeli authorities that crossings would be reopened to allow in both humanitarian and commercial trucks into the Gaza Strip. Still, with a decreased number of commercial trucks entering the prices are currently higher than they were in the weeks preceding the current Iran crisis. The main food items that experienced price increases were vegetables, followed by wheat flour and eggs (which disappeared from the markets for a few days). However, the situation improved a bit as the week progressed with prices decreasing again but many vegetables prices remain higher than they were in the fourth week of February. In the second week of March tomato prices have skyrocketed, reaching 35 NIS (US$12) per kilogram in Gaza, equivalent to the highest point thus far in the conflict. Similar increases were noted in other fresh vegetables, particularly potatoes and onions, with the price per kilogram of each reaching 20 NIS in Gaza City. Wheat flour prices have stabilized after an initial surge during the first two days of the Iran crisis, when the cost of a 25‑kg bag jumped from 40 NIS to 130 NIS. Currently, the same bag is selling for 50–60 NIS across the Gaza Strip, indicating partial recovery in the market. With nearly 87 percent of cropland damaged and over 85 percent of agricultural facilities and wells affected, as well as the livestock sector devastated, Gaza has become overwhelmingly import-dependent. Even small shocks to the stability in the flow of fresh items impact prices, highlighting the criticality of enabling increased local production. While most of buying and selling transactions are done online through digital cash transfer/banking apps, the liquidity problem persists in the context of limited employment, constrained and market functionality. Physical access to food showed slowed improvement in March compared to February, as only 28 percent of surveyed households reported better access compared to 49 percent in the previous month, 34 percent reported no change. Alarmingly, 37 percent reported worse access in March compared to February which can be attributed to the sudden increases in the prices and the decreased entry of commercial goods. No cooking gas trucks have entered the Gaza Strip for 10 consecutive days between February 26 and March 8th, with some limited entry from March 9th. This limited supply resulted in a sharp rise in black market gas prices, with one kg fluctuating between 80-130 NIS in the past week, and its disappearance from official distribution channels for that period. With the decrease in the number of commercial trucks entering the Gaza Strip since the onset of the conflict with Iran, retailers have faced more challenges in restocking, with 70 percent of surveyed retailers reported that their stock levels as below normal, and 81 percent citing drastic price fluctuations as making stock procurement and management more challenging. With ongoing challenges in access to cooking gas, 48 percent of the population reported that they continue to rely on waste burning as an alternative to cooking gas in March. Increasing the supply of and access to cooking gas is an urgent priority to mitigate the serious health risks associated with unsafe cooking practices
Key Findings - West Bank
Following the outbreak of the Israel/USA and Iran conflict, mass panic in the West Bank led to supermarket rushes buying in large quantities many times greater than they need and heavy demand at gas stations, causing overcrowding and temporary closures. Most food prices remained stable, with the exception of tomatoes. Preliminary data show a sharp increase in tomato prices during the first two days of the second half of March, reaching 15 NIS/ Kg across most West Bank governorates. Fuel and gas entered critical levels, with shortages reported. March data from the Petroleum Authority shows rising energy costs: gas cylinders up 7 percent (75 NIS from 70 NIS), diesel and kerosene up 4.7 percent (5.96 shekels/liter), and 95-octane gasoline up 2% (6.85 shekels/liter). Israeli Ministry of Energy announced that Israel will temporarily shut down some of its natural gas reserves. The Ministry of National Economy (MoNE) reported that stable food items remain available in local markets, with stocks sufficient for three months for key items. The Israeli army closed several city gates and checkpoints, further restricting movement. The MoNE has adopted a decentralized distribution policy across all governorates to ensure access even during road closures or emergencies.