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A critical shortage of lighters in Gaza has transformed the everyday item into an essential resource that determines whether families can prepare meals. Since Israel’s military campaign began in October 2023, the availability of lighters has plummeted while prices have skyrocketed. What once cost less than a dollar now sells for between $27 and $33, forcing residents to make impossible choices between purchasing a lighter or buying food for their families.
Mothers across Gaza depend on fire for basic survival needs including cooking, baking bread, and heating water. With cooking gas in short supply, many families rely on wood-burning stoves and clay ovens, making lighters indispensable. Some residents report waiting entire days unable to find a lighter, forcing them to eat cold food or borrow fire from neighbors by carrying cardboard to collect embers. The desperation has become so acute that families repair damaged lighters multiple times rather than replace them, spending significant sums on repairs.
The lighter shortage stems from broader restrictions on goods entering Gaza. According to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Israeli authorities classify certain items as “dual-use” products, subjecting them to additional scrutiny. Commercial shipments entering the territory average only 191 trucks daily—far below pre-war requirements. This has created an informal lighter-repair economy, as residents stretch the lifespan of existing devices to survive the ongoing crisis.
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Originally reported by Aljazeera →
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