All bakeries in the Gaza Strip ceased operations on Tuesday due to the depletion of flour and fuel, following Israel’s month-long blockade preventing their entry into the enclave.
The head of the Gaza Bakeries Association, Abdel Nasser Al-Ajrami, stated that all bakeries operating under the World Food Programme (WFP) will close due to the exhaustion of flour supplies. He added that “the drums of starvation are beating once again,” noting that WFP-supported bakeries in the southern part of the Strip had already shut down yesterday, while bakeries in Gaza City and the northern areas will stop operating as of today.
Speaking to the official news agency, Al-Ajrami explained, “The reason is the blockade and restrictions on goods, which have led to the depletion of flour, fuel, and even yeast.” He emphasized that “this closure casts dire consequences on the livelihoods of Gazans, who are already suffering from the horrors of this brutal war, in addition to the complete absence of cooking gas.”
According to the Gaza Bakeries Association, the Gaza Strip consumes 450 tons of flour daily, and bakeries had been covering 50% of the population’s needs.
There are 140 operating bakeries in Gaza, including 70 automated ones. A significant number of them have been destroyed by Israeli forces, particularly in the northern areas, with losses estimated in the millions of dollars.