NEW DELHI: In India, Parle-G biscuits are synonymous with simplicity, a nostalgic tea-time snack, a budget-friendly staple found in almost every household. In war-ravaged Gaza, however, the iconic Indian biscuit has taken on a grim new identity: a luxury item, symbolising the desperation of a population teetering on the brink of famine.A viral social media post by Mohammed Jawad, a Palestinian living in Gaza, has spotlighted the stark realities of wartime scarcity. The video shows his young daughter, Rafif, clutching a pack of Parle-G biscuits, a rare treat in a region suffering from an acute food crisis. Jawad revealed he paid more than €24 (approximately Rs 2,342) for the packet, which usually costs less than Rs 5 in Indian markets and around Rs 100 in international grocery stores.“Even though the price jumped from €1.5 to over €24, I just couldn’t deny Rafif her favorite treat,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter), capturing hearts — and shock — across the globe, particularly among Indian users for whom Parle-G is an enduring symbol of affordability and childhood.His post quickly went viral on social media with many Indian users tagging government officials and the Parle company for help. A user wrote: “India sent Parle G to Palestinians as an Aid but Aid trucks get captured by Hamas and they sell the food and medicines in black to the hungry Palestinians. Rs 5 Parle-G being sold at Rs 2,500. This is the real face of the so-called resistance exploiting the misery of innocents.”Replying to the post, Jawad said, “Some people think the aid that comes for the people of Gaza is distributed fairly. But the truth is that the occupation has recruited many agents and thieves to steal this aid and sell it on the market at sky-high prices. For example, flour is sold for around $500, and sugar is sold for about $90 per kilogram. All basic goods are sold at insane prices. Some people, who can’t afford to buy, risk their lives just to get what they need. Meanwhile, others steal large quantities and sell them in the market for huge profits.”This extraordinary price spike is a direct result of the ongoing humanitarian disaster unfolding in Gaza. Since the breakdown of a ceasefire in March, Israel has imposed a near-total blockade on aid entering the Palestinian enclave. The restriction has triggered a sharp surge in malnutrition rates, especially among children, and has devastated local supply chains.According to a UN report released on Thursday, the rate of acute malnutrition in children under five in Gaza has nearly tripled since February. Of nearly 50,000 children screened in late May, 5.8 per cent were diagnosed with acute malnutrition — up from 4.7 per cent just weeks earlier. The figure marks a dramatic rise from the situation in February, when a temporary pause in hostilities had allowed for freer aid flow, news agency Reuters reported.The UN-backed “nutrition cluster” also noted a spike in cases of severe acute malnutrition, a deadly condition that leaves children extremely vulnerable to infections. Treatment centers in northern Gaza and Rafah have reportedly been forced to shut down due to lack of medical supplies, damage from the ongoing conflict, or targeted attacks — claims Israel denies, maintaining that some facilities are used by Hamas for military operations.Doctors donating blood, children dying of starvationIn a harrowing statement, the international medical NGO Doctors Without Borders (MSF) said doctors in Gaza are now donating their own blood to treat patients, following incidents where dozens of civilians were gunned down while trying to access food aid.Palestinian officials reported at least 29 starvation-related deaths, mostly among children and the elderly — in just a few days last month. These figures come amid growing scrutiny of aid distribution mechanisms and mounting criticism of Israel’s restrictions, even as Tel Aviv insists it vets all aid to prevent diversion by Hamas, a charge the group denies.
