Israel’s food crisis – blowback from the economic costs of perpetual war

Israel’s prolonged conflict has produced an internal crisis that receives far less attention than its military or diplomatic fallout: a deepening problem of food insecurity. According to estimates compiled by Israeli food-security organisations, nearly 39 per cent of food produced or consumed in the country is wasted, a systemic failure that cost the economy around 26 billion shekels (approximately $7 billion) in 2024 alone. The scale of waste stands in stark contrast to rising deprivation. Roughly 1.5 million people in Israel now experience food insecurity, even as surplus food is discarded across supply chains. Over the past decade, cumulative losses from food waste have crossed 211 billion shekels, draining household welfare and public resources alike (National Insurance Institute of Israel). […]