DaysofPal – A steep decline in the flow of goods and aid into the Gaza Strip is threatening food security and deepening an already fragile humanitarian and economic situation, according to new data and expert assessments.
Economic analyst Ahmed Abu Qamar told Sanad News Agency on Thursday that the number of commercial and relief trucks entering Gaza fell by nearly 39% in March, compared with February.
“This decline reflects a deepening crisis in the Strip; a drop in supply while demand remains high leads to further economic strangulation.” Abu Qamar said.
He explained that any reduction in the flow of goods into a market already suffering from blockade and collapse leads directly to three main outcomes: shortages of basic commodities, higher prices, and an expansion of the black market, alongside hoarding and speculation.
Abu Qamar stressed that the core problem lies in Gaza’s loss of economic resilience. Unemployment exceeds 80%, poverty is above 90%, and roughly 95% of households depend on aid, he said.
“These indicators mean that any setback in supplies constitutes a direct threat to food and livelihood security, not just a market imbalance,” he added, noting that the volume of goods currently entering Gaza represents only a small fraction of the already low “minimum” quota agreed upon, one that in itself does not cover real needs.
He argued that the crisis has moved beyond the immediate effects of war and blockade to a “complete breakdown” of supply and demand inside an exhausted economy.
Official figures from Gaza show a sharp drop in truck movements in March 2026, down by 39–41% compared with February.
A total of 3,901 trucks entered the Strip in March, an average of 130–135 trucks per day, compared with 230 trucks per day in February. Of the March total, about 85 trucks per day carried relief supplies and 45 carried commercial goods.
Fuel deliveries also fell by 1.9%, covering only 17.1% of Gaza’s actual needs. Overall imports did not exceed 22.5% of the agreed minimum of 600 trucks per day, according to the same data.
The decline has been linked to tighter restrictions at crossings and the intermittent closure of the Kerem Shalom (Kerem Abu Salem) crossing, which, according to Abu Qamar and local authorities, has led some international organizations to see their aid deliveries fall by as much as 80%.
Compounding the crisis, more than 4,000 tons of meat and other foodstuffs have spoiled due to prolonged waiting times at or near the crossings. Current estimates indicate that Gaza needs around 750 trucks per day to begin a path toward recovery.
Gaza’s Ministry of Economy has held Israel responsible for the worsening situation, saying that the reduction in truck entries, from about 350 per day at some points to as low as 80, has severely disrupted markets and access to basic goods.
International agencies have also sounded the alarm. The World Health Organization has warned that medical stocks in Gaza have reached “critical” levels, while the UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) has reported that its aid consignments are being obstructed despite being available and ready for delivery outside the Strip.
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