The ongoing Israeli siege and restrictions on goods have made lighters scarce and critical for daily life in Gaza, where residents rely on them to start fires for cooking and heating due to shortages of cooking gas and high fuel prices. Before the conflict, lighters cost $0.33 for three; now, a single new lighter can cost $27-33, and repairs cost around $12. The Gaza Chamber of Commerce and Industry reported that over 30,000 trucks entered Gaza in the first five months of 2026, averaging 191 trucks daily, which is far below pre-war needs, with lighters specifically documented as items prevented from entering.