GAZA CITY: Amid the holy month of Ramazan, market activity in the Gaza Strip has surged as shoppers rush to buy different tasty foods and household goods, defying deteriorating economic circumstances caused by the Israeli blockade.
Large crowds of pedestrians and queues of vehicles can be seen in and around marketplaces, with grocery and household stores packed with customers.
Merchants and store owners see Ramazan as an opportunity to revive their businesses, raise demand from Palestinian consumers and compensate for longstanding stagnation and poor economic conditions.
“There is no improvement in the economic condition in the Gaza Strip, but most citizens tend to save part of their own money and salaries for the holy month of Ramazan to purchase their goods, which enhances the purchasing movement,” Mohammed Abu Jbara, a shopowner in Gaza, told Arab News.
He added: “We seek to provide huge quantities of foods related to Ramazan in particular, due to the rising demand about the month before the advent of the month.”
Deteriorating economy amid Israeli blockade
Despite the Gaza Strip suffering from the deteriorating economy due to the Israeli blockade since mid-2007, and the high unemployment rate and dependence of Gazans on food aid from world institutions, the month of Ramazan remains an opportunity to restore the economy as part of the area’s recovery.
Those fasting in the holy month of Ramazan focus on foods to prepare daily meals for iftar, and females are interested in buying house and kitchen supplies from household appliances stores. The sale of meat of all kinds, frozen and fresh, also surges during Ramazan, while clothing and other sectors see the decline before a revival ahead of Eid Al-Fitr.
