Parle-G Price Skyrockets from Rs 5 to Rs 2,300 in Gaza Highlighting Severe Food Crisis
From Rs 5 to Rs 2,300: India’s Parle-G Becomes Luxury in Gaza Amid Humanitarian Crisis
NEW DELHI: Parle-G biscuits, known across India as a simple, affordable snack found in nearly every household, have become an unexpected symbol of extreme scarcity and hardship in war-torn Gaza. What costs just Rs 5 in India and about Rs 100 internationally now sells for over Rs 2,300 in Gaza, highlighting the devastating impact of the ongoing conflict and blockade on basic food availability.
A viral social media post by Mohammed Jawad, a Palestinian resident of Gaza, has captured global attention by exposing the harsh realities faced by civilians living under siege. Jawad shared a touching video of his young daughter Rafif holding a pack of Parle-G biscuits, a rare and precious treat in the region. Jawad revealed he paid more than €24 (approximately Rs 2,342) for the packet — a staggering increase from its usual price of less than Rs 5 in India.
Jawad’s post resonated strongly with Indian users, many of whom expressed shock and sadness over the luxury pricing of a product so familiar and affordable in their country. Several users tagged government officials and the Parle company, urging them to intervene and help those suffering in Gaza.
The post also sparked debates about the distribution and misuse of aid. One user pointed out that aid shipments containing essentials like Parle-G sent to Palestinians are reportedly intercepted by Hamas and sold on the black market at inflated prices. “Rs 5 Parle-G being sold at Rs 2,500. This is the real face of the so-called resistance exploiting the misery of innocents,” the user commented.
Responding to the concerns, Jawad explained the grim reality on the ground: “The occupation has recruited many agents and thieves to steal aid and sell it at sky-high prices. Flour is sold at around $500 per sack, and sugar costs about $90 per kilogram. People who cannot afford these prices risk their lives to obtain basic necessities, while others exploit the crisis for profit.”
This extreme price hike is directly linked to the worsening humanitarian disaster in Gaza, where a near-total blockade imposed by Israel since the ceasefire collapse in March has severely restricted aid and essential supplies. This blockade has crippled local supply chains and pushed the population toward famine conditions, particularly affecting vulnerable groups like children.
A recent UN report revealed a drastic rise in malnutrition rates among children under five in Gaza. The rate of acute malnutrition has nearly tripled since February, with 5.8 percent of children diagnosed with severe malnutrition as of late May, compared to 4.7 percent just weeks earlier. The nutrition crisis is exacerbated by the closure of treatment centers in northern Gaza and Rafah due to conflict-related damage and medical supply shortages.
Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has issued a stark warning about the deteriorating medical situation in Gaza. MSF reported that doctors are donating their own blood to treat patients amid severe shortages. They also highlighted that dozens of civilians have been shot while attempting to access food aid, underscoring the deadly challenges faced by ordinary Palestinians.
Palestinian officials have confirmed at least 29 starvation-related deaths, mostly among children and the elderly, in a matter of days last month. These tragic figures have intensified scrutiny on the aid distribution system and criticism of Israel’s blockade policies, which Tel Aviv defends by claiming strict vetting to prevent aid diversion to Hamas. Hamas denies these allegations.
The story of Parle-G’s soaring price in Gaza serves as a powerful symbol of the desperate conditions endured by millions caught in the conflict. What was once a humble biscuit now starkly illustrates how war and blockade have transformed basic necessities into luxury items, deepening the humanitarian crisis and underscoring the urgent need for effective aid delivery and conflict resolution.
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