Gaza's nicotine crisis: Rising tobacco costs drive use of molokhia cigarettes
Original framing: “Molokhia cigarettes: Gaza’s toxic alternative to tobacco” — Al Jazeera
Health workers and youth in Gaza report that molokhia cigarettes are often the only affordable option. Their voices are rarely included in mainstream narratives, which focus on the health risks rather than the structural causes of the crisis.
The use of molokhia cigarettes in Gaza is a systemic outcome of economic blockade, health policy neglect, and cultural adaptation under crisis.
While the immediate health risks are significant, the deeper issue lies in the geopolitical structures that prevent access to basic goods and services. Drawing on cross-cultural examples of plant-based nicotine use, and integrating indigenous and scientific knowledge, a holistic response must include economic relief, public health education, and international advocacy. The voices of local health workers and youth must be centered in these efforts. Only through systemic change—addressing both the supply of tobacco and the demand for alternatives—can the cycle of harm be broken.