Gaza's Repair Economy Booms as Blockade Sends Fan and Lighter Prices Soaring

In the sweltering heat of Khan Younis, a new kind of commerce is thriving: the repair of everyday items that have become nearly impossible to replace. With Israel's blockade on commercial goods tightening, Palestinians in Gaza are finding that maintaining what they have is their only option, particularly for indispensable items like fans and lighters.

The cost of these goods has skyrocketed. A fan that once sold for 300 shekels now fetches up to 1,500 shekels. The price of lighters has seen an even more dramatic surge, with a single lighter now costing up to 120 shekels, a stark contrast to the pre-war price of three for one shekel.

For displaced residents like Abeer Shehab, the shortage is a daily crisis. "We try to light a fire, but we can't find anything. There's no gas, and no lighters to prepare simple things like food, bread, and everything else that requires a lighter," she said, highlighting how a simple tool has become a fundamental need.

Repairmen have become essential figures. Hassan Abu Latifa, a displaced person who repairs lighters, notes the shift in perception. "Anyone who hears the word 'lighter' thinks it's something trivial and simple. It's not a trivial matter; it's a fundamental problem, like food, water, flour, and shelter."

The situation is equally dire for those seeking relief from the heat. Mohammed Abu Alwan, who runs a fan repair shop, says demand is unusually high. "Every house needs at least one fan, and the number of fans in the house is practically non-existent. Those that exist were salvaged from under the rubble," he explained. He noted that it has been almost three years since a new motor entered the Gaza Strip, forcing him to cannibalize old motors to keep others running.

Displaced man Mohammed Abu el-Enein, sheltering in a tent with his family, expressed frustration at the restrictions. "I don't understand the harm in allowing fans through the crossings. What would they make with them? Rockets?" he asked. "We can't live in these tents. All day long, we use cardboard to light a fire, or we splash water on the children because of the heat."

The blockade, which has been in place since the war began in October 2023, has severely limited the flow of goods. While a ceasefire deal in October increased the flow of aid, restrictions on commercial items like fans and lighters remain, leaving residents to rely on ingenuity and repair to survive the summer.