The bitter cost of survival: Gazas desperate search for edible food

This dire situation is not unique to Abed. The widespread use of rotten flour has led to numerous health issues, including abdominal pain, diarrhea, and bloating. “We know it harms us, but with no fresh flour available in the markets, we have to do it to stay alive,” he adds, calling on international organizations like UNRWA to pressure Israel to allow more flour shipments into Gaza.
A bitter taste of desperation
Suffering from similar health issues is As'ad Abu Ubeid, who spoke of the harsh reality of eating dry, moldy bread, the result of deteriorating flour supplies. "The bread we eat smells terrible, and its taste makes your skin crawl. It’s full of bacteria and fungi, which have led to problems like bloating and digestive issues," said Abu Ubeid to WAFA. “Sometimes, the pain and discomfort are unbearable."
For many residents of Gaza, finding a bag of fresh flour is rare and expensive. When available, the price is prohibitive, reaching up to 35 shekels per kilogram. But the problem goes beyond price; access is a major barrier. Flour is difficult to obtain, especially in the aftermath of Israeli bombardments that have targeted those attempting to buy flour in the southern areas of the Strip. The few who manage to acquire it face grave dangers just to get it.
Another resident, Muhammad Dali, explained how he has resorted to using vanilla sugar and vinegar to mask the foul taste of rotten flour. “Even after I used these tricks to make it more bearable, the awful taste lingers,” he said. “But we can’t afford to be picky. It’s a matter of survival.”
The health dangers of contaminated flour
The impact of consuming contaminated flour is not just an inconvenience but a serious health risk. Dr. Hazem Barghouth, a nutrition expert, explained to WAFA that the consumption of moldy flour can lead to food poisoning, with symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. “Moldy flour contains harmful microbes, including aflatoxins—toxins produced by certain fungi—that can lead to long-term health issues such as liver damage, cancer, and immune system suppression,” he said.
Dr. Barghouth also warned that the nutritional value of flour deteriorates significantly once it becomes moldy, leading to a depletion of vital vitamins and minerals in the bread and other foods made from it. “This long-term deprivation can result in nutritional deficiencies, weakening the body’s ability to fight off other diseases.”
The role of international law and accountability
The tragedy of Gaza’s food crisis is compounded by the fact that this situation is not merely the result of a natural disaster, but rather a deliberate tactic in the ongoing Israeli siege. Under international humanitarian law, deliberately depriving civilians of food is prohibited.
The United Nations Security Council, in its 2018 resolution, condemned the use of starvation as a weapon of war, calling it a war crime. Similarly, Article 8 of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) recognizes intentionally starving civilians as a war crime, punishable under international law.
Furthermore, the Fourth Geneva Convention, which governs the protection of civilians during times of armed conflict, expressly prohibits the use of food as a means of punishment. Articles 33, 55, and 59 of the Convention make clear that the occupying power must ensure the provision of essential goods like food and medicine, rather than using their deprivation as a form of collective punishment.
A cry for justice
As residents of Gaza continue to suffer the devastating effects of a man-made famine, their calls for international intervention grow louder. They urge the world to recognize the deliberate starvation as a form of punishment and an assault on their very humanity.
“The world cannot stand by and watch as we are forced to eat rotten flour just to survive. This is not a choice—it is a matter of life and death,” said Muhammad Dali, his voice heavy with frustration, in an interview with WAFA. "We need food, we need help, and we need the international community to hold Israel accountable for these war crimes."
In Gaza, the struggle to survive goes far beyond physical hunger. It is a battle against the very denial of life itself, where every bite of food is a reminder of the war that continues to rage, not only in the streets but in the stomachs of those who are left to endure it.

The bitter cost of survival: Gaza's desperate search for edible food