Gaza Families Face Eid Without Traditional Joys as Prices Soar
Gaza City – The approaching Eid holiday, traditionally a time for family, feasting, and gifts, is casting a shadow of disappointment over many Gazan households this year. Soaring prices, driven by ongoing restrictions on imports, are putting even basic Eid celebrations out of reach for families already struggling with the consequences of the war that began in October 2023.
Rania al-Saudi, a mother of two displaced from Shujayea to the west of Gaza City, recently visited a toy stall in the central al-Rimal market hoping to bring a small measure of joy to her daughters. She had promised them dolls, a customary Eid treat, but was stunned by the prices.
“This doll used to cost no more than 15 shekels ($5) before the war; now it costs 60 shekels ($20),” she told Al Jazeera, frustration evident in her voice. “This is something I cannot afford. Everything is expensive and overpriced.”
Al-Saudi’s experience is not isolated. Parents throughout Gaza are grappling with the reality that toys, new clothes, and other traditional Eid purchases are simply unaffordable. The economic crisis gripping Gaza, exacerbated by the war and restrictions on trade, has left many families prioritizing basic necessities like food over festive celebrations.
Toy sellers themselves are feeling the pinch. Anwar al-Huwaity, a vendor with 20 years of experience, explained that obtaining toys has become incredibly difficult. “Before the war, toys were widely available,” he said. “Today, we go from one trader to another, searching…Sometimes we find toys with someone who had them stored, but they sell it at a very high price, up to three times its normal price.”
The limited toys that do reach Gaza often arrive through unofficial routes, adding to the cost. Some middlemen reportedly demand as much as 12,000 shekels ($3,870) for a small shipment, with traders bearing the full risk of confiscation or destruction. As a result, prices have increased by as much as 300 percent compared to pre-war levels.
While no official law explicitly bans toys from entering Gaza, administrative and security restrictions, coupled with the prioritization of humanitarian aid, have effectively halted their import. The United Nations has noted the impact of these restrictions on the availability of both essential and non-essential goods.
The situation has left vendors like Ahmed Ziara, who previously participated in toy exhibitions, facing a heartbreaking dilemma. “Sometimes I have to sell below the expected price just to clear stock, but most of the time we must raise prices due to high costs and difficulty obtaining toys,” he said. He added that witnessing the disappointment of children unable to afford toys has made his work increasingly difficult.
The impact extends beyond the inability to purchase gifts. Rania al-Saudi lamented the loss of tradition and the deprivation faced by her daughters. “Eid holidays are for children’s joy, and children are happy with toys and entertainment. But our children are deprived of everything.” Her six-year-old daughter, Razan, struggled to understand why she couldn’t have the doll her mother had promised, while her younger sister, Lulwa, began to cry upon realizing the same.
Families are adapting as best they can, with children turning to simple games like hopscotch and drawing in the sand to fill their time. But for many, this Eid will be a stark reminder of the hardships endured and the uncertain future facing Gaza.
