GAZA CITY — A heart-wrenching video from Gaza has gripped social media, showing a young girl named Rafif receiving her favorite Parle-G biscuits from her father — biscuits that reportedly cost the family ₹2,300 (over €24) due to wartime scarcity and black-market exploitation.
Posted by Mohammed Jawad on X (formerly Twitter), the video and accompanying post read:
“After a long wait, I finally got Rafif her favorite biscuits today. Even though the price jumped from €1.5 to over €24, I just couldn’t deny Rafif her favorite treat.”
A photo of Rafif smiling while enjoying the biscuits quickly went viral. While the claim has not been independently verified by HT.com, it triggered waves of sympathy, concern, and calls for humanitarian assistance — including urgent appeals to India’s Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar.
Social Media Reactions:
- “That baby is eating India’s favourite biscuit. Look, I know we are neutral about the war. But can we please send more Parle-G to Palestine?”
- “India should send some more food and medicines to Palestine.”
- “These are my favourite biscuits too, from childhood.”
- “It’s very saddening to see this.”
Why the High Cost?
According to media, humanitarian aid entering Gaza is limited, and what little arrives is often diverted into black markets, where prices skyrocket.
Dr. Khaled Alshawwa, a surgeon in Gaza City, explained:
“These goods usually enter Gaza as humanitarian aid, free of charge. But only a minority receives them. Scarcity turns them into high-priced black market goods.”
He added,
“The closure of borders for more than three months now has allowed only a scarce amount of very basic needs… These foods are being sold at very high, unaffordable prices.”
Background Context:
- Parle-G, an iconic Indian biscuit brand known for its affordability, typically retails in India for as low as ₹5–10.
- Gaza has been facing dire shortages of food, water, medicine, and fuel amid the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict and prolonged border closures.
- The incident has sparked fresh conversations around India’s role in humanitarian diplomacy, even as it maintains a neutral stance on the war.
Awaiting Response:
HT.com has reached out to Parle Products for a statement. The report will be updated upon receiving a response.
Conclusion:
The simple joy of a child receiving a biscuit has become a stark symbol of the devastating humanitarian toll of the Gaza conflict, and a reminder of how ordinary items become extraordinary lifelines in times of war.