Growing bread queues in Gaza as Israel restricts fuel, flour imports

bread shortages deepen in Gaza as flour imports dwindle and bakeries struggle to meet rising demand amid fuel scarcity.Gaza City, Gaza – Standing in a long queue under the beating sun, 14-year-old Muhammed al-Roubi was waiting to buy bread. But there was a strong chance that, despite his patience, he would not get any.A flour and fuel shortage in recent weeks, brought on by Israeli restrictions on imports into Gaza, means that bakeries cannot produce as much bread as Palestinians in Gaza need.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Israel sent Iron Dome anti-missile batteries and personnel to UAE: US envoylist 2 of 3‘Love you, from Gaza’: Fans, athletes hail Yamal’s Palestine flag wavelist 3 of 3The Flotilla Diaries: Inside the 2025 mission to break the Gaza siegeend of listPalestinians, the vast majority of them living displaced as a result of Israel’s genocidal war on the territory, are instead forced to wait for hours in queues outside of the few remaining bakeries to get subsidised bread packages.“My uncle’s family and ours live in the same house, and we share food, so we need a large amount of bread every day,” said al-Roubi, who had come to the bakery with his cousin before separating and joining different queues.“That is why my cousin and I each stand in a separate line,” he explained. “Some days, we return empty-handed because the bread runs out and there are too many people.”ShortagesThe growing queues at the few remaining distribution points reflect the current decline in production levels, while demand continues to rise, driving increased prices and the growth of a black market.Ismail al-Thawabta, the head of Gaza’s Government Media Office, said last month that the territory needs about 450 tonnes of flour per day, but that only 200 tonnes were coming in.Recent shortages stem from Israel’s decision to close the crossings into Gaza on February 28, when Israel launched a joint war with the United States on Iran. The crossings partially reopened after a few days, but traffic through them has been limited.