In Gaza, Even the Cost of a Grave Has Become a Luxury

As we live in Gaza under the fear of rockets and Israeli bombardment, and with looming threats of an invasion by the Israeli government in full view of the world, in our markets, residents are fighting yet another war — one against soaring prices. It is a war that has drained pockets, exhausted people, and turned daily life into a burden no less cruel than the bombing. The calls of street vendors echo between the narrow alleys and their prices seem to float upward without limit, while purchasing power shrinks by the day. The blockade chokes the the whole Strip; salary cuts deepen the struggle; and battered banknotes are often rejected by shopkeepers. The challenge is no longer only to secure food , but also to obtain the most basic non-food necessities, which have themselves become lux