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Days of Palestine
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Days of Palestine
Bakery Association: Only 4 Bakeries Operating in Gaza as Israeli Forces Block Access
DaysofPal – Abdel Nasser Al-Ajrami, head of the Bakery Owners Association in the Gaza Strip, confirmed that only 4 out of 25 bakeries contracted with the World Food Programme (WFP) remain operational amid the ongoing Israeli siege. In statements issued Saturday, Al-Ajrami explained that the four functioning bakeries are all located in Deir al-Balah, in central Gaza. The Israeli occupation, he added, is preventing numerous bakeries from operating by enforcing evacuation orders and designating certain areas as 'red zones.' In Khan Younis Governorate, no bakeries are currently operational due to the dire security situation, continuous shelling, and mass displacement of residents. One bakery in Nuseirat Camp briefly reopened for a single day but was forced to close again after overwhelming crowds of starving civilians stormed the facility. The bakery ultimately returned its supplies to the WFP, stating it could not continue operations under such chaotic conditions. Al-Ajrami suggested that distributing flour directly to residents might offer a temporary solution, easing pressure on bakeries and restoring a minimal sense of food security. In northern Gaza, he said, most bakeries have been either bombed or forced to cease operations due to the relentless bombardment. The few that remain are unable to function amid the escalating genocide and lack of resources. Flour supplies remain extremely limited. Many governorates have received none, due to both Israeli control over aid trucks and the looting of shipments by lawless groups in Khan Younis. Of the 140 bakeries that operated before the war, only 50 remain standing. Twenty-five are known to be still under contract with the WFP, but the status of the remaining 25 has been unknown since March. On Friday, the United Nations World Food Program confirmed that it has yet to receive Israeli approval to resume direct distribution of flour and other aid to families in Gaza. Currently, the only option available is to work with a small number of bakeries to produce and distribute bread. In an official statement, the WFP reiterated its full commitment to supporting Palestinian families but warned that the continuing ban on direct aid delivery only worsens the suffering—particularly among children, the elderly, and the sick. The statement further emphasized that current conditions—marked by severe movement restrictions and limited supplies—are undermining humanitarian efforts and increasing the risk of full-scale famine. The WFP called for the immediate restoration of direct distribution to address urgent needs and prevent the total collapse of the humanitarian situation. The organization concluded by reaffirming its dedication to finding viable solutions and urged the international community and local authorities in Gaza to facilitate its mission during this critical phase. Shortlink for this post:
Days of Palestine
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Days of Palestine
Famine Grips Gaza as All Bakeries Shut Down Amid Ongoing Genocide
DaysofPal- A severe humanitarian catastrophe has unfolded in the Gaza Strip as all bakeries across the enclave ceased operations on Friday due to the unavailability and skyrocketing cost of flour. The closure marks a devastating escalation in the ongoing siege that has now surpassed 64 consecutive days. Abdel Nasser Al-Ajrami, head of the Bakery Owners Association in Gaza, confirmed the shutdown, stating that flour prices have reached unprecedented levels. 'All bakeries in the Gaza Strip have stopped operating,' Al-Ajrami said, warning that even charitable food kitchens, known as Takayas, have been forced to close their doors. The shutdown comes amid dire warnings from the Government Media Office, which described the situation as an 'imminent humanitarian disaster.' According to the office, the Israeli occupation continues to enforce a complete blockade, barring the entry of baby formula, nutritional supplements, and critical humanitarian aid. This has left over 70,000 children hospitalized due to severe malnutrition, with 3,500 under the age of five at imminent risk of death by starvation. An estimated 290,000 children are now teetering on the edge of famine, while 1.1 million children face daily hunger without access to basic nutrition. 'This is a crime of genocide,' the Media Office declared, accusing the Israeli occupation of using starvation as a weapon in what it called a 'systematic policy of extermination.' The office condemned the 'shameful international silence' and called on the global community to take urgent action. 'The denial of food and medicine to children under siege is a blatant violation of international law,' the statement added, holding the international community responsible for its failure to intervene. Humanitarian organizations, UN institutions, and regional stakeholders have been urged to pressure for the immediate and consistent opening of Gaza's crossings and the entry of lifesaving aid. Local leaders and clan representatives echoed this plea, condemning the Israeli military's use of starvation as a tactic of war and appealing directly to regional powers and U.S. President Donald Trump to act swiftly. Since March 2, the Israeli occupation has kept Gaza's crossings closed to all forms of relief, medical, and food assistance, exacerbating an already dire crisis and pushing the population further toward mass starvation amid an ongoing campaign widely denounced as genocidal. Shortlink for this post:
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Bakeries close across Gaza as World Food Programme warns food supplies are set to run out in two weeks
All bakeries in Gaza have closed due to a severe lack of fuel and flour caused by Israel's near month-long blockade of humanitarian aid, according to local authorities. 'The occupation has forced all bakeries to shut down entirely, exacerbating the famine crisis that threatens the lives of innocent civilians, particularly children, patients, and the elderly,' the Hamas-controlled Government Media Office in Gaza said Tuesday. The closures are likely to accelerate the spread of famine in the strip, the head of the local Bakery Owners' Association, Abdel Nasser Al-Ajrami told the Palestinian Press Agency Safa. The United Nation's World Food Programme (WFP) said all 25 of its bakeries in the enclave had shut, citing the lack of flour and fuel. 'Hot meals are continuing, but supplies will last two weeks. WFP will distribute its last food parcels in the next two days,' said Abeer Etefa, the WFP's communications officer for Middle East, North Africa and Eastern Europe. The closures are already having a dire impact on Palestinians, with one man telling CNN his children are nauseated and exhausted from the lack of food. 'I went to every bakery. Every time we ask, they say there's no flour due to the closure of the crossings. The Israelis control the crossings. We don't know where to go,' Abdul Rahman Fattayeh said. Ibrahim al-Kurd, a local Palestinian, told CNN the situation was 'extremely difficult, beyond explanation.' 'I have 40 family members, and I've been searching for bread for them since 8 a.m., going around all the bakeries in Deir al-Balah. None are operating,' al-Kurd said. 'There's no flour, no firewood, nothing. Not even water. It's dire,' he added. The Israeli government shut down the supply of food and other humanitarian aid into Gaza in early March, in a bid to pressure Hamas into releasing more hostages and impose new conditions on the extension of the ceasefire. No aid has entered the enclave for more than three weeks, with the head of the UN's agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) saying that this is the longest Gaza has been without any supplies since the war began. 'During the ceasefire, 500–600 trucks arrived daily. Now, nothing,' Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General, said last week. Describing the latest blockade as the worst humanitarian crisis since the war began, Amjad Al-Shawa, director of the Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network, warned the closure of bakeries would impact 'hundreds of thousands of people' who rely on them for food. 'The coming days will be very critical on the lives and the health of the Palestinians in Gaza, mainly children, women, and elders,' Al-Shawa said Tuesday, urging the international community to pressure Israel into reopening the crossings. CNN has reached out to COGAT, the Israeli agency responsible for enabling aid to enter Gaza, for a response to the claims. CNN's Eyad Kourdi contributed reporting.
CNN
01-04-2025
- General
- CNN
Bakeries close across Gaza as World Food Programme warns food supplies are set to run out in two weeks
All bakeries in Gaza have closed due to a severe lack of fuel and flour caused by Israel's near month-long blockade of humanitarian aid, according to local authorities. 'The occupation has forced all bakeries to shut down entirely, exacerbating the famine crisis that threatens the lives of innocent civilians, particularly children, patients, and the elderly,' the Hamas-controlled Government Media Office in Gaza said Tuesday. The closures are likely to accelerate the spread of famine in the strip, the head of the local Bakery Owners' Association, Abdel Nasser Al-Ajrami told the Palestinian Press Agency Safa. The United Nation's World Food Programme (WFP) said all 25 of its bakeries in the enclave had shut, citing the lack of flour and fuel. 'Hot meals are continuing, but supplies will last two weeks. WFP will distribute its last food parcels in the next two days,' said Abeer Etefa, the WFP's communications officer for Middle East, North Africa and Eastern Europe. The closures are already having a dire impact on Palestinians, with one man telling CNN his children are nauseated and exhausted from the lack of food. 'I went to every bakery. Every time we ask, they say there's no flour due to the closure of the crossings. The Israelis control the crossings. We don't know where to go,' Abdul Rahman Fattayeh said. Ibrahim al-Kurd, a local Palestinian, told CNN the situation was 'extremely difficult, beyond explanation.' 'I have 40 family members, and I've been searching for bread for them since 8 a.m., going around all the bakeries in Deir al-Balah. None are operating,' al-Kurd said. 'There's no flour, no firewood, nothing. Not even water. It's dire,' he added. The Israeli government shut down the supply of food and other humanitarian aid into Gaza in early March, in a bid to pressure Hamas into releasing more hostages and impose new conditions on the extension of the ceasefire. No aid has entered the enclave for more than three weeks, with the head of the UN's agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) saying that this is the longest Gaza has been without any supplies since the war began. 'During the ceasefire, 500–600 trucks arrived daily. Now, nothing,' Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General, said last week. Describing the latest blockade as the worst humanitarian crisis since the war began, Amjad Al-Shawa, director of the Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network, warned the closure of bakeries would impact 'hundreds of thousands of people' who rely on them for food. 'The coming days will be very critical on the lives and the health of the Palestinians in Gaza, mainly children, women, and elders,' Al-Shawa said Tuesday, urging the international community to pressure Israel into reopening the crossings. CNN has reached out to COGAT, the Israeli agency responsible for enabling aid to enter Gaza, for a response to the claims. CNN's Eyad Kourdi contributed reporting.
CNN
01-04-2025
- General
- CNN
Bakeries close across Gaza as World Food Programme warns food supplies are set to run out in two weeks
All bakeries in Gaza have closed due to a severe lack of fuel and flour caused by Israel's near month-long blockade of humanitarian aid, according to local authorities. 'The occupation has forced all bakeries to shut down entirely, exacerbating the famine crisis that threatens the lives of innocent civilians, particularly children, patients, and the elderly,' the Hamas-controlled Government Media Office in Gaza said Tuesday. The closures are likely to accelerate the spread of famine in the strip, the head of the local Bakery Owners' Association, Abdel Nasser Al-Ajrami told the Palestinian Press Agency Safa. The United Nation's World Food Programme (WFP) said all 25 of its bakeries in the enclave had shut, citing the lack of flour and fuel. 'Hot meals are continuing, but supplies will last two weeks. WFP will distribute its last food parcels in the next two days,' said Abeer Etefa, the WFP's communications officer for Middle East, North Africa and Eastern Europe. The closures are already having a dire impact on Palestinians, with one man telling CNN his children are nauseated and exhausted from the lack of food. 'I went to every bakery. Every time we ask, they say there's no flour due to the closure of the crossings. The Israelis control the crossings. We don't know where to go,' Abdul Rahman Fattayeh said. Ibrahim al-Kurd, a local Palestinian, told CNN the situation was 'extremely difficult, beyond explanation.' 'I have 40 family members, and I've been searching for bread for them since 8 a.m., going around all the bakeries in Deir al-Balah. None are operating,' al-Kurd said. 'There's no flour, no firewood, nothing. Not even water. It's dire,' he added. The Israeli government shut down the supply of food and other humanitarian aid into Gaza in early March, in a bid to pressure Hamas into releasing more hostages and impose new conditions on the extension of the ceasefire. No aid has entered the enclave for more than three weeks, with the head of the UN's agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) saying that this is the longest Gaza has been without any supplies since the war began. 'During the ceasefire, 500–600 trucks arrived daily. Now, nothing,' Philippe Lazzarini, UNRWA Commissioner-General, said last week. Describing the latest blockade as the worst humanitarian crisis since the war began, Amjad Al-Shawa, director of the Palestinian Non-Governmental Organizations Network, warned the closure of bakeries would impact 'hundreds of thousands of people' who rely on them for food. 'The coming days will be very critical on the lives and the health of the Palestinians in Gaza, mainly children, women, and elders,' Al-Shawa said Tuesday, urging the international community to pressure Israel into reopening the crossings. CNN has reached out to COGAT, the Israeli agency responsible for enabling aid to enter Gaza, for a response to the claims. CNN's Eyad Kourdi contributed reporting.
