Every day, Gazans venture out into the fields in search of wild plants to eat. One of these plants, known as khubeezeh or cheeseweed, has been a traditional side dish for generations but has now become a major food source due to the dire living conditions in Gaza. The recent wave of violence has only worsened the situation, with one in four households facing food insecurity and famine-like conditions, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Residents of Deir Al-Balah have seen a sharp increase in the price of cheeseweed since it has become a common practice to harvest them. Before the war, these plants were free for anyone to pick, but now they must be purchased due to low food stocks and scarce humanitarian aid. For young people like Ahmed Fayyad, who was studying pharmacy just a few months ago, selling cheeseweed on the street has become a means of survival after being displaced by the ongoing fighting in Gaza.
According to Abu Ali, a resident who was displaced from Gaza City, cheeseweed is the cheapest and most widely available food option, as other items are simply too expensive. The war has also had a devastating impact on the agricultural sector, with 46% of land for growing crops destroyed and 97% of water unfit for human consumption. The limited aid entering Gaza is only able to meet the needs of a small percentage of the population, and access to certain areas is being restricted by Israeli authorities.