Gaza Herald – The crisis of industrial oil and spare parts shortages in Gaza has escalated to unprecedented levels, with growing warnings that vital sectors are nearing collapse.
Ongoing restrictions on the entry of these essential materials, critical for industry, energy, and transportation, have pushed the territory toward a severe operational breakdown.
Generator owners have warned of an imminent collapse in basic services, as Gaza relies almost entirely on generators as an alternative power source. Any disruption in their operation poses a direct threat to daily life, especially as the lack of oils and spare parts makes maintenance increasingly impossible, pushing systems toward total failure.
In the industrial sector, signs of paralysis are becoming evident. Factories are operating at minimal capacity due to shortages in operational supplies, with experts warning that machinery could cease functioning completely within a short period.
In the food sector, officials have cautioned that bakeries and production lines may soon shut down, posing a serious threat to food security and increasing dependence on humanitarian aid.
The crisis extends beyond factories to critical infrastructure. Shortages of generator oils and spare parts threaten to shut down alternative power sources in hospitals and medical centers, putting patients’ lives at risk. Water systems, sewage networks, and municipal services are also being severely impacted, further deepening the humanitarian crisis.
Economically, the shortage has triggered a dramatic surge in prices. The cost of engine oil has skyrocketed from around 15 shekels (5$) per liter before the war to over 700 shekels (230$) today, while some spare parts have increased by more than 500%. As a result, many vehicles have gone out of service, transportation costs have surged, and the movement of people and goods has been disrupted, destabilizing local markets and supply chains.
Experts describe the situation as approaching a “near-total collapse,” with the market increasingly dependent on worn-out and unusable parts. Without urgent intervention and the consistent entry of essential supplies, Gaza faces the risk of a complete economic shutdown, one that will directly impact the lives of more than two million civilians and further intensify the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe.
