How Does an Indian Parle-G Biscuit Cost Rs. 2400 in Gaza?

Parle-G Biscuit Costs More Than Gold: A Gaza Tale of Scarcity and Survival

A mainstay in Indian homes Parle-G biscuits were never meant to be a luxury. They are linked to childhood tea breaks and affordable nutrition. However in Gaza where a lack of food has resulted in severe famine they are being sold for almost 500 times their original cost. 

A man in Gaza recently shared a widely shared post claiming that Parle G biscuits which are produced by Parle Products a company based in Mumbai are selling for more than 24 euros (Rs 2342). Since biscuits have long been among the least expensive foods available in India many people on social media were perplexed by their price. 

Today after much waiting I was able to get Ravif her favorite biscuits. The viral post said I just couldn’t deny Rafif her favorite treat even though the price went up from 11.5 euros to over 24 euros.

After a long wait, I finally got Ravif her favorite biscuits today. Even though the price jumped from €1.5 to over €24, I just couldn’t deny Rafif her favorite treat. pic.twitter.com/O1dbfWHVTF

— Mohammed jawad 🇵🇸 (@Mo7ammed_jawad6) June 1, 2025

Famine that is Manufactured

Israel has been steadily reducing Gazas access to food since the October 2023 escalation and the military campaign that followed. This year the besieged Palestinian enclave was virtually cut off from March 2 to May 19. After significant international pressure only a small number of humanitarian trucks were permitted entry. 

Israel had halted regular UN food deliveries accusing Hamas, the political and militant organization in Gaza of stealing and turning aid into weapons. On May 27 however a contentious and widely criticized substitute was unveiled: the Secure Distribution Site 1 (SDS1) model created by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) which the French daily Le Monde claims is a collaborative effort supported by the United States, Switzerland and Israel.
Safe Reach Solutions, a US-based private security company that has been accused of conducting intelligence operations in Gaza using Israeli data, is stationed at the SDS1 which is situated in Rafah and has caged corridors that force Palestinians into tight lines. 

However, how many aid boxes are being sold for exorbitant prices on the black market and how much aid actually reaches the hungry?

The Realities of the Black Market

The exorbitant prices are not exclusive to Parle-G, an export from a nation about 4300 kilometers away. 

A 31-year-old surgeon from Gaza City named Dr. Khaled Alshawwa told. The issue isn’t with the original suppliers or taxation. These items typically arrive in Gaza as free humanitarian aid. However they are given to a minority only. They become expensive goods on the black market due to scarcity. 

Mr. Alshawwa claimed to have paid about Rs 240 for the packet of Parle-G biscuits he was able to obtain rather than more than Rs 2000 as some places do. Depending on the seller different locations have different prices. Curiously there is absolutely no mention of price on these Parle-G packets with the labels EXPORT PACK. 

More than three months of border closures have only made it possible for a limited number of extremely basic necessities to be met which is insufficient to meet the needs of two million people. Therefore these foods are sold at extremely high unaffordable prices when some people are able to obtain some or when looting occurs. Dr. Alshawwa stated. 

It looks like Parle-G probably got there via aid shipments and ended up in the hands of a select group of vendors who offered it for sale at prices that the majority of Gazans could not afford. Contact the business to request a statement.

As of June 6 2025 a rough summary of the market prices (in Indian rupees) for a few key northern Gazan products.

• 1 kg sugar: Rs 4,914
• 1 litre cooking oil: Rs 4,177
• 1 kg potatoes: Rs 1,965
• 1 kg onions: Rs 4,423
• 1 coffee cup: Rs 1,800

Gaza demonstrates the outrageous prices at which basic goods and groceries are sold. The prices in the new Israeli shekel are stated. The local currency. 24. 57 Indian rupees are equivalent to one Israeli shekel. 

This is why free humanitarian aid directly to the people of Gaza is so important, said Guy Nir, the spokesperson for the Israeli embassy in India in response to the biscuits’ exaggerated price.

Because Hamas stole more than 80 percent of the goods in all the previous aid attempts and sold them to the Gazans for a ridiculous price, he said.

How ₹5 Parle G Is Being Sold For ₹2,400 In Gaza. Report by @ScoutDesk: https://t.co/3ppHnwXCSr

— Shiv Aroor (@ShivAroor) June 6, 2025

Read More : Celebrating Ekta Kapoor: The Visionary Behind India’s Television Revolution

Reasons to Consider Parle-G

There is more to Parle-G than food. It’s nostalgia in a paper form. Introduced in 1938 the biscuit became a local substitute for upscale British snacks during India’s Swadeshi movement. A biscuit that was affordable for all it became a national equalizer.

Because of the economic principle of shrinkflation which reduces weight without affecting price Parle-G has been able to maintain its low price tag over the years. Approximately 55 grams are now contained in a Rs 5 packet that once contained 100 grams. It continues to be one of India’s least expensive packaged foods.

The first Indian fast-moving consumer goods brand to reach Rs 5000 crore in sales was Parle-G in 2013. According to Nielsen it was the best-selling biscuit globally by volume by 2011. 

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