Cigarette prices in the Gaza Strip have surged to unprecedented levels, with a single pack now selling for as much as 1,300 shekels, according to recent reports. The sharp spike comes amid a reduction in supply and stricter enforcement measures targeting smuggling into the territory.
Just four months ago, a pack of cigarettes cost about 70 shekels. This week, however, the price climbed to 1,300 shekels. A Gaza resident told Kan News that many smokers have begun searching for alternatives. According to him, residents have reached the point where they are smoking herbs and adding nicotine to them.
In October 2025, a single cigarette sold for between two and three shekels. Today, individual cigarettes are priced between 30 and 50 shekels each. Reports attribute the dramatic increase to a significant decline in cigarette shipments into Gaza, as well as tougher measures aimed at curbing smuggling operations.
The resident who spoke with Kan News accused local traders of exploiting the situation, saying they are hoarding goods and creating monopolies at the expense of Gaza’s residents, in addition to the taxes imposed by Hamas.
Smoking rates in Gaza are considered very high. Residents consume an estimated 600 million cigarettes annually — roughly 30,000 packs per year — generating a market valued at approximately one billion shekels each year.
The same resident noted that nicotine used in improvised cigarette substitutes has also risen sharply in price. A liter of nicotine, which previously cost 3,000 shekels, now sells for 20,000 shekels, he said.
This is terrible. Hopefully Canada and the UN will condemn this clear violation of International Law against Israel.
I think it’s terrible these poor impoverished starving Gazans are forced to spend 50 shekels for 1 cigarette – 1300 shekels for an entire pack!
How can they feed themselves or their families when they are forced to spend all the money they claim they don’t have on cigarettes?
A terrible human rights travesty. How long will the world be silent?
Dr. Bryan Ardis: Nicotine can prevent Parkinson’s and cure Parkinson’s, MS, Alzheimer’s, ulcerative colitis, all arthritices, psoriatic, gout, osteo, rheumatoid, myocarditis and even a cure for autism. They’re banning it like ivermectin… this is the reason why they’re jacking up the prices of cigarettes.
Nicotine is not addictive
RFK says that studies have shown that Nicotine doesn’t cause cancer and Nicotine can reduce dementia and Alzheimer.
They add cancer causing toxins to cigarettes! They are evil. Don’t buy their toxic waste!
instead of using their covid stimulis money to buy fireworks they can use it to buy cigarettes
let hamas smoke themselves into lung cancer for all i care
aderaba we should give them cigarettes and fast food and then they will be too obese to fight israel and their lungs will be destroyed. if they asked for food give it to them and cigs