Shopping centers inside Palestine compete to attract shoppers in Ramadan (Al Jazeera)

Occupied Jerusalem -

Israel's war on the Gaza Strip has cast a shadow on the economic conditions of the 1948 Palestinians, who suffer from the high cost of living and high rates of poverty and unemployment. This year, Ramadan 1445 AH is different from previous years, amid the rise in the prices of food supplies, which has placed families facing difficult choices regarding consumption. Economy by spending in the Ramadan basket.

According to the poverty and unemployment report issued by the National Insurance Institute, the war on Gaza and its repercussions on the Israeli economy and labor market deepened poverty and unemployment among the 1.6 million Palestinians of 1948.

They constitute 21% of Israel's population of 9,795,000 people, according to data from the Israeli Central Bureau of Statistics.

Palestinian families in the territories of 48 see shopping as a special advantage during Ramadan (Al Jazeera)

Official data show that the unemployment rate among Palestinian workers during the war reached more than 15%, compared to 9% among Jews. About 100,000 Palestinians have become unemployed and registered with employment offices.

Also, 63% of Palestinian families live in poverty and insecurity, compared to 31% among Jewish families.

Offers and campaigns

In light of the deteriorating economic conditions, large sectors of merchants and owners of shopping networks in Palestinian towns have been competing to attract shoppers from the citizens of 1948, by providing all food supplies and Ramadan necessary goods to be accessible to everyone.

Despite the high prices, there was a demand among families to shop in shops in Palestinian towns, amid understanding on the part of shop owners and Palestinian businessmen of the economic circumstances and conditions.

These merchants show solidarity with families during Ramadan, by offering offers to attract shoppers, and contributing to supporting and sponsoring families in need.

Marwan Badir, marketing employee at the “Ahmed Zuhdi Network,” said that the war on Gaza and its economic repercussions cast a shadow on families during the month of Ramadan, and on the shopping and consumption patterns of Palestinian families from 1948.

Marwan Badir: The war on Gaza and its economic repercussions cast a shadow on families during Ramadan (Al Jazeera)

Badir pointed out that Palestinian families continue to shop and buy what they need for Ramadan despite the difficult circumstances due to the repercussions of the war, but he added that these families are looking for the cheapest and are satisfied with their basic needs.

He called on merchants to understand the circumstances and conditions that Palestinian society is experiencing, and to give up as much as possible on making more profits and reduce prices during Ramadan.

Badir also called for showing community solidarity to ease the financial burden on families by refraining from raising prices, taking into account the miserable economic circumstances and conditions, and the decline in the purchasing power of families.

He also said that businessmen and merchants are an integral part of Palestinian society, "and they must bear responsibility and take into account the circumstances of the families who were all affected by the war and the miserable economic conditions."

Consumption patterns

Families inside Palestine agree on the rise in prices of consumer goods and products against the backdrop of the war, but the opinions monitored by Al Jazeera Net showed differences between families regarding the need to rationalize consumption and reduce spending during Ramadan.

Qaisi regime: Despite the war and economic crisis, the Palestinian family goes shopping during Ramadan (Al Jazeera)

Nizam Qaisi (a family head) says that Ramadan has a special advantage for the Palestinian family, as they accept to buy all the necessary goods and products despite the economic crisis. He adds that the weekly Ramadan basket costs between 300 and 400 dollars.

He points out that Palestinian families depend on credit cards during Ramadan, which prompts them to continue shopping patterns with deferred payments, stressing at the same time that many families adopt a policy of rationalizing consumption and purchasing basic supplies, while some of them save on the Ramadan basket by about 50% due to high prices.

Partnership and cooperation

In view of the worsening economic conditions and the continuous rise in prices, the Sojood Rasmi Amash family relies on the principle of partnership and cooperation between brothers and sisters to purchase food basket supplies during the month of Ramadan.

“The Ramadan basket remains very expensive,” Sujud says. “The price has doubled compared to Ramadan last year.”

She adds that there are many Palestinian families who live in austerity due to poverty, unemployment, and the loss of their work as a result of the war, "and are content with buying basic supplies."

The weekly Ramadan basket is expensive and may reach $400 for a family of 6 people (Al Jazeera)

Like Sujood, citizen Samira points out that many families - since the start of the war and the deterioration of economic conditions - have adopted a policy of reducing consumption expenses, and are now content with purchasing basic necessities due to the sharp rise in the prices of food and supplies for various commodities.

Source: Al Jazeera