The ongoing blockade and restrictions on fuel imports have left Gaza residents grappling with chronic shortages of cooking gas. Cylinders, when available, are sold at inflated prices, forcing many families to ration usage or seek alternatives.

In neighborhoods across Gaza City and refugee camps, families resort to firewood, scrap wood, or even burning plastic to prepare meals. These methods, while essential for survival, expose residents to health hazards from smoke and toxic fumes.

Local reports indicate that distribution centers often run dry for weeks, leaving households without access to gas. Community kitchens and aid organizations attempt to fill the gap, but demand far exceeds supply.

Residents describe the situation as a return to older times, where cooking over open flames was common. Mothers and children spend hours collecting wood, while fathers wait in long queues hoping for a cylinder refill.

The crisis underscores the broader humanitarian challenges in Gaza, where electricity cuts, water shortages, and limited medical supplies compound daily struggles. Analysts warn that without easing restrictions, reliance on unsafe cooking methods will continue to grow.