What are the available food options in war-torn Gaza Strip?

Gaza (Quds News Network) – In the midst of the current Israeli onslaught and strict siege on Gaza and the resulting widespread famine, especially in the north, the food options in the enclave have become severely limited.

Some vegetables, if available, are priced as high as $10 per kilogram, while the cost of meat has skyrocketed to $80 per kilogram, forcing Gaza residents to adapt their dietary habits to cope with the challenging circumstances.

Muaawiya, a resident of Jabalia in northern Gaza, told reporters that he now consumes only one meal a day, sometimes consisting of plain rice, and on other days, resorting to eating leaves and plants. “I ate boiled tree leaves once, and the taste was extremely bitter, like the bitterness of gall, but I wanted to satisfy my hunger,” he expressed.

Adding to the distress, some residents have turned to consuming donkey meat as no food aid reaches northern Gaza. Muaawiya recounted witnessing people slaughtering donkeys for consumption, with the remains of these animals seen hanging in households.

Jaser Ibrahim, from northern Gaza, shared that he and his family now have one meal a day due to the scarcity of bread and food. The meal options range from plain white rice to lentil soup, white beans, or cheeseweed. Ibrahim explained that acquiring vegetables is challenging, with potato prices reaching $10 per kilogram and onion prices equally high.

In an effort to diversify their food intake, some residents turn to sweets like mahalabia. Mohammad Al-Manshawi, who recently moved from northern to southern Gaza, emphasized that the northern region faces a genuine famine, even running out of animal feed, raising concerns about what people will eat once even the feed is depleted.

Moving from northern to southern Gaza, specifically in Rafah, Munir Radi, shared his experience of collecting leftovers from the hospital to feed his family. He described collecting rice and lentil remains and turning them into a Palestinian dish called ‘majadra.’ On another occasion, he gathered hospital leftovers of cooked peas and potatoes, providing them as a meal for his children and family.

Radi depends on these efforts as he receives very limited food aid, consisting of one type of canned food (either tuna or fava beans) every three days for his family of five. He explained that this amount is barely sufficient for one person as a daily meal.

Samaran Al-Attar, another displaced resident from Beit Lahia to Rafah, highlighted the struggles of consuming aid-supplied fava beans filled with worms. Unable to afford meat due to the exorbitant prices, reaching $80 per kilogram, Al-Attar, like many others, has resorted to eating infested beans out of desperation.

As the humanitarian crisis deepens, Ismail Thawabteh, the head of the government media office in Gaza, called for an aerial bridge to drop essential food supplies, including flour, sugar, and salt, over northern Gaza.