logo
Sugar Rs 5,000, Oil Rs 4,000: Gazans Blame Israel, They Say It's Hamas

Sugar Rs 5,000, Oil Rs 4,000: Gazans Blame Israel, They Say It's Hamas

NDTV07-06-2025
New Delhi:
On the morning of Eid al-Adha, prayers across the Gaza Strip were conducted not in mosques, but in the rubble of what used to be homes, schools, and religious institutions. A ceasefire is not in sight, and neither is a meal. The traditions that usually mark this holiday, sacrificial meat, communal feasts, and gifts for children, are unrecognisable now. Instead, a singular item dominates conversations: food, or the lack of it.
A recent viral post from Gaza featuring the biscuit, Parle-G, claimed that they are being sold at over 24 euros, which is approximately Rs 2,400. Like the biscuits, most goods sold in Gaza's markets have become unaffordable to nearly everyone.
A list obtained by NDTV from inside Gaza documents the going rates for basic staples. Converted into Indian rupees (1 new Israeli shekel = Rs 24.57), it reads like this:
1 litre of cooking oil: 170 shekel (approx. Rs 4,177)
1 kilogram of sugar: 200 shekel (approx. Rs 4,914)
1 kilogram of milk powder: 35 shekel (approx. Rs 860)
1 kilogram of flour: 60 shekel (approx. Rs 1,474)
1 kilogram of salt: 20 shekel (approx. Rs 491)
1 kilogram of okra: 45 shekel (approx. Rs 1,106)
1 kilogram of duck meat: 30 shekel (approx. Rs 737)
1 kilogram of tomatoes: 45 shekel (approx. Rs 1,106)
1 kilogram of onions: 180 shekel (approx. Rs 4,423)
1 kilogram of potatoes: 80 shekel (approx. Rs 1,966)
1 kilogram of brinjal: 35 shekel (approx. Rs 860)
1 kilogram of lemon: 60 shekel (approx. Rs 1,474)
1 kilogram of lentils: 35 shekel (approx. Rs 860)
1 cup of coffee: 180 shekel (approx. Rs 4,423)
1 box of goat meat: 200 shekel (approx. Rs 4,914)
Prices like these are unthinkable in a territory where virtually no one has an income.
Israel Say It's Hamas
Israel insists Hamas is hijacking aid. Speaking exclusively with NDTV, Israeli embassy spokesperson Guy Nir said, "There are masked gunmen who are Hamas, who are shooting at the Gazans because Hamas doesn't want this operation to succeed. The thing is, for the first year and a half, most of the aid trucks that went into Gaza were looted. Hamas looted about 80 per cent of all trucks."
According to Mr Nir, Hamas is selling the contents to civilians at inflated prices. This system, he claims, allowed Hamas to exert economic and political control over the population.
In northern Gaza, Israel issued a warning on Friday that it would launch "intensive operations" in areas from which rockets had reportedly been fired. The military said four of its soldiers died earlier in Khan Younis when explosives collapsed a Hamas compound. Five others were injured.
The UN's Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) now projects that by September, nearly 500,000 people in Gaza will be experiencing "catastrophic food insecurity", the highest level of hunger categorisation before famine.
"The amount of humanitarian aid that came into Gaza during the first year and a half was astronomical," Mr Nir said. "We delivered over 3,500 calories per person per day. If everybody ate everything we brought in, they would be fat.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

From Chitar Oli to America: Nagpur's Ganpati crossing oceans for 15 years
From Chitar Oli to America: Nagpur's Ganpati crossing oceans for 15 years

Time of India

time35 minutes ago

  • Time of India

From Chitar Oli to America: Nagpur's Ganpati crossing oceans for 15 years

Nagpur: In the heritage-rich lanes of Chitar Oli, where idol-making is a sacred family art, 31-year-old Nikhil Juratkar continues a three-generation legacy. As a sculptor deeply rooted in tradition, Juratkar has made a name for himself, crafting eco-friendly Ganpati idols — not only for Nagpur but also for devotees as far as the United States. For over 15 years, his idols have reached Indian families abroad, including that of Dr Shraddha Gawankar, who earlier lived in Vermillion City, South Dakota, and now resides in Baltimore, Maryland. Each year, she places an order for two idols — one for her society pandal and one for her home — crafted in Nagpur and shipped overseas. "For over 15 years, I have been ordering eco-friendly Ganpati idols from Nikhil Dada — a truly gifted artist. Even after moving to the USA, we continue celebrating Ganesh Chaturthi with our Marathi Mandal, and every year, Nikhil dada ensures our beautiful Bappa arrives on time, all the way across the globe," she said. What makes his idols special is not just their intricate design but also the choice of materials. Juratkar uses a blend of five different types of shadu mitti — a type of natural, eco-friendly clay that is more expensive than regular soil. But the cost, he says, is worth it for both tradition and the environment. "It dissolves easily in water, leaving no harmful residue. That's what makes it sacred," he says. Once an idol is complete, the packaging process begins — just as carefully. Grass is first placed inside the base of the box to cushion the idol, which is then carefully wrapped, covered, and placed inside a specially made wooden box. Only then is it ready for export. The entire shipment, including customs and delivery, can cost the customer up to Rs10,000. While Juratkar also ships to cities like Pune and Varanasi, the overseas orders hold deeper emotional value. "For families abroad, it's not just about an idol. It's about bringing home with them," he says. Box Preserve sanctity, avoid fads: Bajrang Dal As newer design trends flood social media, Bajrang Dal has reminded artisans to respect tradition. Niranjan Risaldar, media and publicity head of Bajrang Dal (Vidarbha region), said, "Ganpati Bappa is not just a festival icon — he represents our faith and pride. We only ask that idols be made with devotion and in a traditional, respectful manner. This is not the time for trends or experiments, but for preserving the sanctity of our religion. "

Pangolin caught in trap, mouse deer hit in mishap, rescued and released
Pangolin caught in trap, mouse deer hit in mishap, rescued and released

Time of India

time3 hours ago

  • Time of India

Pangolin caught in trap, mouse deer hit in mishap, rescued and released

Navi Mumbai: In two separate rescue operations, an Indian pangolin and a mouse deer injured in a mishap were rescued in Ratnagiri by the forest department. The pangolin was rescued from a trap in Ratnagiri taluka while the mouse deer in Chiplun taluka by a forester and a forest guard on . The pangolin trapped in a nylon net was found inside a mango garden. Both the wild animals were releasedin their natural habitats. An animal lover, Rohan Borkar, had informed the forest department about the Pangolin trapped in the mango garden of Samir Bhatde. The forester Nahnu Gawade and forest guard Sarvari Kadam joined by animal lover Mahesh Dhotre cut the net to get the pangolin released from the trap. However, the forest team did not find any suspicious motive behind the net trap and also the animal had no injury signs. A Pachad resident, Nitin Narvekar had informed the forest guard about the mishap. Gunthe joined with his forester SS Sawant rushed the mouse deer to the veterinary medical officer- Chiplun, Dr. Shreyash Pise for treatment. The animal was kept in the forest custody for a day for observation and care. Gunthe said, "After the swelling subsided we released the 4 year old mouse deer into its natural habitat. Nothing can be confirmed as of yet on which type of vehicle had hit the animal. It seems to be crossing the road but found lying on it." The forest department has appealed to the citizens to keep them informed on distressed wildlife through the department toll free number 1926 or 9421741335. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai

Locals pool money, provide voluntary labour to build a road in Chatra
Locals pool money, provide voluntary labour to build a road in Chatra

Time of India

time4 hours ago

  • Time of India

Locals pool money, provide voluntary labour to build a road in Chatra

Chatra: Locals of a panchayat in Kunda block of the district have raised funds and provided voluntary labour to build a road which will connect their hamlet to district and block headquarters. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The 3 km road, which runs from Harul to Chitwari village under Baudhadih panchayat, was built by ploughing through the portion of a hill. In the absence of a pucca road, locals had to walk through undulating terrain which made their lives miserable, they said. Last week, they went on a fundraising drive. Every household in the village donated Rs 200-500 for the cause. "We took up spades to work the road. Our aim was to make it fit for walking. An earthmover was roped in to plough a portion of a hill. The road will benefit over 2,000 families who live in the area," Raghu Ganjhu, a local, said. Sixty men and women got down to work and paved the road within five days. "The work started on Monday and was completed on Friday," Raghu said. Nandkishore Ganjhu, another resident of Baudhadih panchayat, said, "Political parties and their candidates come and make promises before an election. Then, they forget. For items of daily use, we must travel to Kunda block by trekking through the fields and hilly terrain." Binod Saw, the mukhiya of Baudhadih panchayat, admitted that the absence of a pucca road was posing problems for the locals. "After learning about their problem, I got a road project passed through the gram sabha. But it was taking time. So, the locals built the road themselves by raising Rs 40,000. I will ensure that the road is paved soon," Saw said.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store