The Chambers of Commerce in the Gaza Strip confirmed on Sunday that the Israeli occupation continues to prevent private sector trucks from entering through the crossings, bringing commercial and economic activity in the besieged Strip to a near-total standstill.

The Chambers of Commerce explained in a statement that the continued closure of the crossings has led to a dramatic increase in food prices, exceeding 500%, exacerbating the suffering of the population, who are living under a suffocating siege and catastrophic humanitarian conditions.

Due to the shortage of basic supplies, many residents of the Gaza Strip have been forced to resort to unsafe water sources, having been unable to obtain clean water due to the continued closure of crossings and the ban on the entry of water purification supplies.

The Chambers of Commerce noted that the policy of closure and denial of humanitarian aid constitutes "deliberate starvation" used as a weapon against Palestinians in Gaza, as part of an attempt to subjugate the population through economic and livelihood restrictions.