Gazans are facing severe hardship four weeks since the US-brokered ceasefire, with Israel allowing only a fraction of the agreed aid deliveries and local traders and Hamas authorities trading accusations over unaffordable prices.

Israel's border closures and restrictions on the entry of humanitarian aid, as well as its destruction of farmland, have severely limited food stocks in Gaza.

While deliveries have increased to some extent since the truce took effect, Gazans say prices have not dropped to reflect the inflow of goods and humanitarian aid.

Traders blame high taxes imposed by the Ministry of Economy, part of the Gaza administration set up under the militant group Hamas, which took control of the Palestinian territory in 2007.

The ministry in turn blames the traders, saying it is doing its best to control prices through checks and by selling some items directly through its own outlets.

Murad Hameed, a resident of Al Jalaa neighbourhood in Gaza city, said both sides are to blame.

“Prices in Gaza change daily, and the Ministry of Economy focuses only on a few specific items, such as frozen foods, but for everything else, citizens remain at the mercy of the black market and the traders’ manipulation of prices,” Mr Hameed said.

“For example, only a few days ago, a kilo of sugar was four shekels [about $1.23], but when security tensions and e