The Cost of Survival: A Financial Appeal for Gaza
The realities on the ground are profoundly harrowing and are direct consequences of the ongoing genocide perpetrated by the Zionist state of Israel and its IOF. The economy has collapsed, a direct result of the prolonged siege and destruction. Basic necessities are either unavailable or priced out of reach for most. Abu Salah, Operations Field Coordinator, noted, "There's no electricity, no gas, no water.” Even if one were willing to pay, the money to purchase goods simply isn't there, as livelihoods have been decimated. The economic strangulation is deliberate and pervasive.
Hyperinflation is staggering. Based on recent market observations (July 8, 2025):
A liter of cooking oil costs ₪200.
A kilogram of sugar is ₪350.
A kilogram of tomatoes is ₪50.
A kilogram of potatoes is ₪35.
A kilogram of Egyptian rice is ₪40 (long grain rice is missing).
A kilogram of lentils is ₪20.
To prepare a basic meal, such as rice and lentils with a tomato stew for a family, the cost of ingredients alone is substantial:
1 kg Egyptian Rice: ₪40
0.5 kg Lentils: ₪10
1 kg Tomatoes: ₪50
0.25 liter Oil: ₪50
A pinch of salt: Negligible from ₪7/kg
A very basic meal, without any protein or variety, would cost approximately ₪150. This figure does not account for the cost of scarce cooking fuel. Furthermore, while the market list shows flour at ₪35/kg, it is marked as "missing." Our earlier reports indicate a bag of flour (typically 25kg) now costs between ₪1700-₪1800, meaning a kilogram could cost upwards of ₪70. This makes staple bread, a fundamental part of any meal, unaffordable for most.
As Ahmad, Operations Director, explained, "If someone has a small salary, say 1000 shekels, and 45% is taken [by commission], they are left with 550 shekels. What can you buy with 550 shekels at these prices? A kilo of tomatoes, a kilo of sugar, two kilos of potatoes? Or 12-15 kilos of flour? The situation is difficult." This systemic economic collapse is intentionally designed by the Zionist state to render our people unable to sustain themselves.
The social fabric is under immense strain due to continuous displacement, loss, and the constant threat of violence from the IOF. The team experiences the exhaustion of constant pleas for help from our people, a burden that weighs heavily. Abu Salah stated, "The team suffers from the appeals we receive; honestly, it's exhausting for a human being. It makes you unable to act, unable to deal with it. You feel the suffering, you see the suffering." There is a pervasive sense of helplessness and despair, directly caused by the relentless aggression.
Our people live with constant anxiety and the direct, brutal impact of ongoing massacres by the IOF. The desperate wait for a ceasefire, and the pervasive uncertainty about survival, are defining features of daily life under occupation. Ahmad, Operations Director, shared, "The talk about a ceasefire, everyone is waiting for it impatiently... People are now saying, 'Will we survive or not survive?'" The psychological impact of starvation, a deliberate weapon of war by the Zionist state, is described as worse than death itself: "The weapon of starvation is not a simple thing; it's one of the most difficult things people have lived through, more difficult than death, by God, more difficult than death." This deliberate starvation, coupled with the relentless violence, inflicts immense psychological trauma.
The desperate yearning for a ceasefire permeates every aspect of life in Gaza. Our people cling to any news of a potential halt to the violence. Recent reports from outlets like Al Jazeera (July 10, 2025) indicate ongoing discussions, with headlines such as "If Trump wants Gaza ceasefire, he must pressure Netanyahu: Experts say" and "More than 100 premature babies at risk in Gaza as hospitals run out of fuel." Another report notes, "Israel kills dozens in Gaza as Trump says 'very good chance' of truce." These updates highlight the dire humanitarian situation, particularly the critical state of hospitals, even as political figures discuss potential truces.
However, the reality on the ground remains grim. As Ahmad, articulated, "Currently, reading the scene, I don't know if the issues have been resolved. Will the aid points remain or not? If a truce happens, and the aid points remain, it will be as if the war is still going on, just without shelling, because the weapon of starvation is a big weapon; it's not a simple thing." This underscores the critical need for any ceasefire to include unimpeded humanitarian access and an end to the weaponization of starvation.
Cost of Operations
The financial cost of humanitarian operations in Gaza is severely impacted by the oppressive environment imposed by the occupying power. The total direct cost for the children's activity project on July 7th was approximately ₪7,200. This figure reflects the immense logistical and operational challenges of delivering aid under siege. Every aspect of our work—from procurement to delivery—is made more complex and costly by the ongoing blockade and destruction, compounding the burden on already overstretched humanitarian efforts.
“We worked in the most difficult areas; we reached border areas to stabilize people and encourage them to return to places where there was no life. We built bathrooms, mosques, and prayer areas. I wish the last truce hadn’t been ruined. We built truly massive things in terms of their effectiveness there. Yes, they were tents, and yes, they were prayer areas made of zinc, iron, and tarpaulins, but their cost was equivalent to building an entire building, a whole apartment block, with the money we spent in those days.”
“Honestly, we have delivered work that makes us proud, under the most difficult, darkest, and most complex circumstances imposed by the IOF. We were the best, and we secured the best prices with the best exchange rates, thanks to our team. I chose every person within our team with great care because I didn’t want anyone trivial or someone who just wanted to photograph work, promote it, or beg with it – the kind of talk I hear. Thank God, our youth were something to be proud of. We worked under death, under bombing, displaced and not displaced, and we are still continuing, God willing.”
The ongoing horrors in Gaza - deliberate starvation, relentless violence, economic strangulation, and profound psychological torment - are not abstract concepts. They are the lived reality for our people every single day, a direct consequence of an unconscionable campaign of brutality.
While the international community must act decisively to enforce a permanent ceasefire and hold perpetrators accountable, we, as individuals with a conscience, have a vital role to play. Sa7ten is on the ground, delivering essential aid under the most challenging circumstances. But the traditional donation model, with its unpredictable fluctuations and hefty transfer fees, is unsustainable in the face of such continuous need.
We are working towards a more sustainable approach by building a base of consistent supporters through a subscription model. Imagine the collective power: €20, €40, or €60 a month might seem small in your life, but when it's a consistent contribution from many, it makes an enormous difference. This steady stream of support ensures uninterrupted access to life-saving essentials for our people. It strengthens their resolve and cements their sumud—their steadfastness—against the machinery of killing perpetrated by the IOF and its backing states.
Join Sa7ten's community of committed supporters today. Your consistent monthly donation will provide a predictable lifeline, enabling us to plan long-term, procure vital resources efficiently, and ensure our people have the continuous support they desperately need to survive and resist.
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