Dozens of Gaza kitchens near collapse as food aid blocked by Israel

Community kitchens across Gaza are days away from shutting down as food supplies run dry under Israel’s ongoing blockade, Reuters reports.

In Gaza City, Salah Abu Haseera at the Al-Salam Oriental Food kitchen said he fears he may have served one of his final meals to the 20,000 people who rely on his team daily.

“We face huge challenges in keeping going. We may go out of operation within a week, or maybe less,” he told Reuters by phone.

Only around 70 to 80 makeshift kitchen operations remain and that number is dropping fast.

“In four to five days, these community kitchens will close their doors,” warned Amjad Shawa, head of the Palestinian NGOs Network in Gaza. He said the number was closer to 170 before Israel shut all crossings in early March. Fifteen kitchens shut down just on Monday.

Israel reimposed its full blockade on Gaza on 2 March, abandoning a January ceasefire deal.

This marks the longest complete closure the besieged enclave has ever faced, pushing civilians deeper into crisis.