As Eid al-Adha draws near, families across Gaza are confronting worsening shortages of food, fuel and basic necessities amid the continuing Israeli blockade and genocidal war on the territory. More than two million Palestinians are now living through increasingly dire humanitarian conditions, with aid deliveries and commercial supplies still entering at levels far below what relief groups say is urgently required.

Local authorities in Gaza say the collapse in food security has accelerated in recent weeks as supply routes remain heavily restricted and essential goods fail to reach large parts of the enclave. Bakeries, medical centres and public facilities are struggling to operate because of severe fuel shortages, while rising prices and mass displacement have left many households unable to secure even basic daily meals. Residents say this year’s Eid arrives under exceptionally bleak circumstances, with many families uncertain whether they will have enough food to mark the religious occasion.

Officials also accuse Israel of failing to uphold commitments related to humanitarian deliveries agreed during indirect negotiations. According to figures released in Gaza, only a fraction of the expected aid convoys and fuel shipments have been permitted to enter in recent days. Data from local monitoring teams indicates that just over a quarter of the trucks expected during the past week were allowed through crossings, while fuel deliveries remained critically low, further damaging water networks, hospitals and emergency services already weakened by months of devastation.

The situation has become particularly severe ahead of Eid al-Adha because livestock and sacrificial animals are almost entirely absent from local markets. Restrictions imposed over recent years, combined with the destruction caused by the genocidal war, have drastically reduced the availability of sheep and cattle inside Gaza. Traders say the few animals still available are being sold at prices beyond the reach of most families, after costs linked to feed, transport and veterinary care surged amid the ongoing crisis.

Humanitarian appeals continue to mount for unrestricted access for aid, fuel and commercial goods, with warnings that the humanitarian emergency will deepen further unless crossings are fully reopened. Relief officials and residents alike say the continuing restrictions are pushing Gaza’s civilian population towards even harsher living conditions as one of the most important periods in the Islamic calendar approaches.