The Gaza Crisis: Starvation and Humanitarian Breakdown

 

Introduction

The Gaza Strip, one of the most densely populated regions in the world, has long been a focal point of conflict, suffering, and international debate. However, in recent years, the humanitarian situation in Gaza has deteriorated significantly, with the ongoing Israeli blockade exacerbating the suffering of millions of Palestinians. One of the most pressing issues at the heart of this crisis is the widespread starvation faced by civilians. This article delves into the complex dynamics of the Gaza Crisis, examining the root causes of the humanitarian breakdown, the devastating effects of the blockade, and the international community's response—or lack thereof.

The Genesis of the Gaza Blockade

The Gaza blockade, which began in earnest in 2007, was instituted by Israel in response to the electoral victory of Hamas, an Islamist militant group considered a terrorist organization by Israel, the United States, and the European Union. After Hamas took control of Gaza, Israel imposed a strict blockade on the territory, restricting the flow of goods, including food, medicine, and construction materials. The blockade was intended to limit Hamas's ability to wage war against Israel, but its impact on the civilian population has been catastrophic.

Over the years, the blockade has been tightened in response to increasing rocket fire from Gaza into Israeli territories, leading to periodic escalations in violence. The result has been a profound humanitarian crisis. Gaza's 2 million residents have been left to grapple with chronic shortages of basic necessities, including food, water, and medical supplies, while living in constant fear of airstrikes, military incursions, and economic ruin.

Starvation and Food Insecurity

The ongoing blockade has had dire consequences for Gaza’s economy and agricultural sector. According to reports from international aid organizations and the United Nations, more than half of Gaza’s population is food insecure. This means that millions of people are unable to access enough nutritious food to meet their daily needs. The situation has only worsened in recent months, as the blockade has intensified and conflict has escalated.

One of the most devastating consequences of the blockade is the soaring levels of malnutrition in Gaza. Food prices have skyrocketed, making it impossible for many families to afford basic items. The Gaza Strip, which once had a thriving agricultural industry, is now forced to rely on imported goods, many of which are subject to severe restrictions. These restrictions have crippled the local economy, decimated agricultural production, and left Gaza dependent on foreign aid.

The malnutrition crisis is particularly severe among children, who are the most vulnerable to the effects of hunger. Reports indicate that a significant portion of Gaza’s children suffer from stunted growth and other health issues linked to malnutrition. In some areas, the infant mortality rate has risen as a direct result of the lack of proper nutrition and medical care.

The Humanitarian Impact of the Blockade

The humanitarian impact of the blockade is not limited to food insecurity. The entire healthcare system in Gaza is on the brink of collapse. Hospitals and clinics are overwhelmed with patients, many of whom are suffering from preventable diseases and injuries. Medical supplies are in short supply, and the lack of specialized equipment means that many patients cannot receive the care they desperately need.

In addition to the healthcare crisis, Gaza’s water infrastructure is in disrepair. With limited access to clean water, many residents are forced to rely on unsafe sources, leading to a rise in waterborne diseases. The United Nations has warned that Gaza's aquifers are rapidly depleting, and the region may soon face a complete water crisis if the situation is not addressed.

The blockade has also crippled Gaza’s educational system. Schools and universities have been forced to close or operate at limited capacity, leaving a generation of young people without proper access to education. The mental health toll on the population is also significant, as many residents suffer from trauma, depression, and anxiety due to the constant violence and deprivation.

The Role of International Aid and the United Nations

The United Nations and various international aid organizations have been providing humanitarian assistance to Gaza for years, but their efforts have been hampered by the blockade and the ongoing conflict. Aid shipments are often delayed or blocked altogether by Israeli authorities, and the distribution of aid within Gaza is fraught with challenges.

In recent months, the situation has reached a tipping point. Humanitarian groups have warned that Gaza’s population is facing the risk of mass starvation if the blockade continues. The United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) has issued multiple appeals for increased funding and access to help mitigate the crisis. However, despite these calls, the international community has been slow to respond, and the political dynamics surrounding the Gaza conflict have made meaningful intervention difficult.

Some countries have called for an end to the blockade, but Israel argues that the blockade is necessary for its security and that humanitarian aid should be distributed through authorized channels. This has led to a stand-off, with little progress being made toward alleviating the suffering of Gaza’s civilians.

The Desperation of the Gaza Population

As the situation grows more dire, the people of Gaza have been forced into increasingly desperate measures. In some areas, people have resorted to foraging for food, scavenging in rubbish dumps, or even turning to smuggling operations to get basic supplies. These smuggling routes, often through tunnels beneath the border with Egypt, are dangerous and heavily policed by both Israeli and Egyptian authorities. Those who attempt to cross into Egypt in search of food and supplies risk arrest, injury, or worse.

The blockade has also fueled internal political divisions. While Hamas maintains control over Gaza, many Palestinians have expressed frustration with the leadership’s inability to end the blockade or bring about significant change. This has led to widespread disillusionment and a growing sense of hopelessness among Gaza’s population.

In some instances, protests have erupted in Gaza, demanding an end to the blockade and better living conditions. However, these protests are often met with force by Hamas security forces, leading to further repression and a deepening sense of frustration among ordinary citizens.

International Response: Limited and Ineffective

The international community has been largely ineffective in addressing the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. While there have been numerous calls for an end to the blockade and increased humanitarian aid, political considerations have often taken precedence over human rights concerns.

Countries like the United States and European Union have supported Israel’s right to defend itself against Hamas and other militant groups, which has led to a reluctance to criticize Israel’s actions or call for an end to the blockade. Conversely, many Arab and Muslim-majority countries have called for stronger action to end the blockade, but their influence on the situation remains limited.

The United Nations has issued multiple resolutions calling for an end to the blockade and greater access for humanitarian aid, but these resolutions have been ignored by Israel. The UN’s inability to enforce its resolutions has led to frustration among many Palestinians and international observers.

The Path Forward: Possible Solutions

The path forward for Gaza remains uncertain. The humanitarian crisis is deepening, and the suffering of Gaza’s population shows no sign of abating. For a lasting solution to be found, several key factors will need to be addressed.

First and foremost, there must be a concerted effort to end the blockade and allow for the free flow of goods and aid into Gaza. This will require cooperation from both Israel and the Palestinian Authority, as well as the international community. In the long term, Gaza’s economy must be revitalized, and its infrastructure rebuilt. This will require investment in key sectors such as agriculture, water, and healthcare, as well as the lifting of restrictions on imports and exports.

Second, the political divisions between Hamas and the Palestinian Authority must be resolved. Without a unified leadership, it will be difficult to bring about any meaningful change in Gaza. This will require both internal reconciliation within Palestinian politics and a broader regional effort to foster peace.

Finally, the international community must take a more active role in ensuring that Gaza’s population receives the aid and support it needs. This includes increasing funding for humanitarian organizations, pressuring Israel to lift the blockade, and holding all parties accountable for their actions.

Conclusion

The Gaza crisis is one of the most complex and tragic conflicts of our time. The starvation and humanitarian breakdown faced by the people of Gaza are the direct result of a combination of political, economic, and military factors. While international aid has provided some relief, it is clear that a long-term solution will require both political will and meaningful intervention from the international community. Until then, the people of Gaza will continue to endure unimaginable suffering, with little hope for the future.

Sanctum of the Damned ~ A Horror Love Story in Vatican City ~

The Vatican Library held secrets older than any soul alive. Deep beneath the Apostolic Palace, far beyond the illuminated corridors of the public archives, there was a chamber no record acknowledged—hidden behind a false wall, sealed with symbols in dead languages. It was called Sanctum Obscura, the Dark Sanctuary. Few even knew of its existence, and only one was permitted to enter: Elena Moretti, a reserved, brilliant archivist with solemn grey eyes and the quiet grace of a cloistered nun.

She lived in near silence, surrounded by tomes of forbidden knowledge. Elena wasn’t a member of the clergy, but her life mirrored the austerity of one bound by vows. Her days were spent deciphering ancient Latin scrolls and cataloguing secrets the Vatican could never admit existed. Her only human connection was her assigned confessor: Father Rafael.

He was a young exorcist, striking in appearance and temperament alike, his faith tempered by fire and disobedience. His voice carried the weight of sermons, but his gaze was always softer when turned to Elena. Every week, she confessed. Every week, he listened. There was an unspoken tenderness between them, born not of sin, but of something holier—something forbidden.

On a fog-heavy evening in late November, Elena came across a manuscript unlike any she had seen before. It was bound in tanned, stretched skin, the texture like burnt parchment. A sigil — the mark of Lilith — pulsed faintly in the candlelight. The script was scrawled in red ink that shimmered like blood. Against protocol, she read it.

It was a letter.

Not a threat. Not a curse.

A love letter.

It was written by a 15th-century Vatican exorcist named Lucien Valenti to a demoness he had once cast into the abyss. But the letter bore no hatred. It was longing, passion, torment. He had fallen in love with the very thing he was sent to destroy. He had begged her to return. His final line read: “Come back to me. I will surrender my soul if only to touch you again.”

The moment Elena whispered the line aloud, something ancient stirred in the chamber. The candles flickered. The stone floor moaned beneath her feet. Coldness, not of this world, curled around her spine. That night, she collapsed in her quarters during evening prayers, her lips whispering names no one else had ever heard. Her voice layered in tones—hers, and another’s.

The Vatican summoned Father Rafael.

She was taken to the chapel, and as he stood before her with holy water and trembling hands, he recognized something deeply wrong. Elena’s body convulsed, but her eyes wept tears. Her voice called out not in the name of the devil, but for a man long dead: Lucien.

She cried, “You swore you'd never leave me!” over and over, until her voice broke into silence.

It wasn’t possession. Not entirely. There was no vulgarity, no hatred for God. What gripped Elena was not demonic. It was grief. It was love. Something had awakened in her—a soul tied to another across centuries.

Rafael stood frozen, the crucifix slipping from his fingers. Against every law of the Church, he knelt and cradled her. She clung to him as if she’d done so a thousand times before.

“It’s not a demon,” she whispered through her tears. “It’s him. Lucien… he came back for me.”

The next day, they returned together to the Sanctum. Within its depths lay an artifact most dreaded by the clergy: Speculum Peccati, the Mirror of Sins. Its frame was carved from cursed olive wood, rumored to reveal the soul’s deepest truth. No priest dared gaze into it.

But Elena did.

As she stood before it, her reflection shifted. Not just one Elena, but two. The second was dressed in black fire, her eyes wide with immortal sorrow. A bride of ash.

Rafael looked too. And in his reflection, he did not see himself alone. He saw a man in antique robes, a golden cross branded into his hand—Lucien. It was not a resemblance. It was a twin.

Memories that were never his surfaced: a kiss beneath gallows, hands bound in exorcism chains, whispered vows made in blood and darkness. Lucien had been reborn. In him.

The Vatican moved swiftly. Elena was ordered to a cloistered convent in Tuscany. Rafael was to be reassigned to Spain. But the two had already defied doctrine. And they would again.

On their final night in Vatican City, they returned to the Sanctum Obscura. Elena took a blade and pressed it gently to her palm, letting the blood drip onto the manuscript. Rafael lit candles in the ancient rite of binding. They stood beneath a crucifix blackened by centuries of smoke and sin, and kissed.

They recited the forbidden words—once spoken by Lucien and the demoness—and the air itself tore open. Wind screamed. The earth groaned. The chamber shook with the weight of spirits.

They did not run.

They did not scream.

They held each other and vanished into the void.

No bodies were found. No explanation offered. The Vatican sealed the chamber the next day and erased both names from its records.

But the mirror still stands.

And some nights, the guards whisper of strange lights and the faint echo of voices—soft, in Latin, reciting verses no prayer book holds. A man and a woman. Lovers, locked beyond the reach of heaven or hell.

The manuscript remains open.

And beneath the final faded line, two new names have appeared, written in fresh, unending crimson:

Elena + Rafael, bound in love, beyond God and Hell.

Whispers on the Wind

 

The train swayed gently as it cut through the heart of Provence. Fields of lavender stretched endlessly beneath a soft golden sky, their violet hues blurring into the sunlit horizon. Cléo Fontaine sat by the window, sketchbook balanced on her knee, trying to catch the essence of the view in hasty pencil strokes. Her curly dark hair was tied in a messy bun, a stubborn strand falling onto her cheek, but she didn’t mind. Art demanded freedom, not perfection.

Cléo had grown up in Marseille, a port city buzzing with life. But at twenty-six, she found herself drawn to silence—especially the kind that spoke in color. So she left her job at an advertising firm, bought a second-hand bicycle, and booked a one-way ticket into the countryside with nothing but her paints and curiosity. She didn’t expect to meet anyone. She didn’t want to meet anyone. Not after Jules, not after the year her heart had been stitched together with loneliness.

At the Avignon station, a man boarded the train and sat across from her. He was tall, lean, and wore a slightly wrinkled navy-blue coat over a white shirt. His hair was the color of sand, his eyes a stormy grey. He carried an old leather satchel, out of which peeked a book with a frayed spine. He didn’t look at her right away. He watched the fields too, as if trying to remember something lost. Then he caught her eye—and smiled.

"You sketch," he said, in lightly accented English.

Cléo nodded. "I try."

He glanced at her drawing. "You succeed."

She laughed, a small, surprised sound. "Are you an artist too?"

"No," he replied. "I’m a writer. Or I was. Now I just travel and pretend I have stories."

They talked, easily, as if they had always talked. His name was Luca Ferraro, Italian by birth, born in a quiet lakeside town near Como. He had spent the last few years in Berlin writing novels that never sold. His last relationship had ended like a ghosting text—unfinished, unread, and unexplained.

"So what are you doing in Provence?" she asked.

"I heard the wind here speaks better than critics," he answered with a grin. "And I needed to listen."

By afternoon, they reached a small hill town called Saignon. Cléo had rented a room at a vineyard villa that overlooked the valley. Luca had no plan. On impulse, she offered him the spare room in the same villa. It wasn’t romantic—it was human.

But that night, as they sat on the terrace with glasses of local wine, watching stars appear above the hills, something softened between them. She told him about her fear of starting over. He told her about the silence that comes after a book fails, and how loud it can be. They didn’t touch. But their hands rested closer than they had before.

In the weeks that followed, they explored the countryside together. Cléo painted the vineyards and village alleys; Luca scribbled fragments of prose inspired by her strokes. They spoke of everything—philosophy, childhood, broken dreams, stupid movies. They cooked meals together. They argued over olives. And they danced—once—under the rain when a sudden storm caught them in Gordes. He twirled her like he knew her bones. But they never kissed.

Cléo feared that loving him would mean losing herself again. Luca feared that loving her might fix him—and then leave him empty when she left. They shared a thousand little moments, but held back the one that mattered.

One morning in late September, Cléo found a note under her cup of coffee. "Come with me to Italy." Just that. In Luca’s messy handwriting. He waited at the edge of the vineyard, standing beside a rented red Vespa, helmet in hand. She stared at him for a long time. Then she took the helmet and smiled.

They rode south through Nice, past Monaco, through the border into Liguria. The Mediterranean gleamed like glass beside them. They stopped in seaside towns, tasting pesto, scribbling poetry on napkins, painting sunsets on crumpled postcards. Luca brought her to his childhood home near Lake Como, a faded yellow house with ivy on the walls. His mother, a sweet old woman with warm hands and an apron that smelled of rosemary, welcomed Cléo as if she were always meant to be there.

At the lake, Cléo painted Luca—his profile as he sat reading on a dock, bare feet dangling above water. And that night, in a cottage room lit only by candlelight, he touched her face and whispered, "I think I fell in love with you in the lavender fields."

She leaned into him, slowly, like a secret blooming. "And I’ve been falling ever since."

But real life, like all stories, demands conflict. Cléo had received an offer from a gallery in Paris—a month-long residency and solo show. It was everything she had once dreamed of. Luca, meanwhile, had finally finished his manuscript—a novel inspired by her—and a publisher in Milan was interested. They sat again on a terrace, this time above the shimmering lake, hands interlaced but hearts heavy.

"You should go," he said.

"So should you."

"But?"

"But..." she sighed. "What are we without this summer?"

Luca didn’t answer. Instead, he kissed her—not gently, not desperately, but like he was placing a bookmark in her soul.

The Paris gallery walls were filled with light and longing. Cléo’s work had become known for its intimacy—for the way it captured silence. One of her most famous pieces was titled "The Writer in Rain." Critics didn’t know who the man was, but she did.

In Milan, Luca’s novel, Whispers on the Wind, became a quiet success. He never mentioned her name in interviews, but the book was about a woman who painted silence into the sky. They hadn’t spoken in a year. Not because of anger, but because some goodbyes are too beautiful to ruin.

It was in Venice, at a literary-art symposium, that their paths crossed again. Cléo was showing a new collection. Luca was giving a talk on storytelling and loss. She saw him first, across the courtyard of an old palazzo. He looked older, not in age, but in depth. Their eyes met. He walked up to her slowly, as if through memory.

"I saw your painting in New York," he said. "The one with the lavender fields."

She smiled. "I read your book. Twice."

A pause. Then:

"I’ve missed you," he said softly.

"I’ve carried you," she replied.

He reached for her hand. This time, there were no hesitations. No borders. No train stations to separate them. Only the whispers on the wind—and the scent of lavender in the air.

Australians Vote In Election Swayed By Inflation, Trump :"Uncertain Times"

 

From dusty desert towns to sun-splashed harbour cities, millions of Australians will choose between left-leaning incumbent Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and conservative challenger Peter Dutton.

Australians will cram voting booths on Saturday to pick their next government, deciding a hard-fought election shaped by living costs, climate anxiety and Trump tariffs.

From dusty desert towns to sun-splashed harbour cities, millions of Australians will choose between left-leaning incumbent Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and conservative challenger Peter Dutton.

The almost universal consensus across a slew of opinion polls leading up to election day was that Albanese's governing Labor Party would win its second term.

"No one would deny these are uncertain times. And in times of uncertainty, we usually see voters swing towards incumbent governments," Roy Morgan pollster Michele Levine said as polling day approached.

A total of 18.1 million voters have enrolled for the election. More than a third of them have cast an early ballot, the election authority says

Voting is compulsory, enforced with fines of Aus$20 (US$13), leading to turnouts that top 90 percent.

A result could come as soon as Saturday night, unless the vote is very tight.

Albanese, 62, has promised to embrace renewable energy, tackle a worsening housing crisis, and pour money into a creaking healthcare system.

Trump slump

Liberal Party leader and former police officer Dutton, 54, wants to slash immigration, crack down on crime and ditch a longstanding ban on nuclear power.

Some polls showed Dutton leaking support because of US President Donald Trump, who he praised this year as a "big thinker" with "gravitas" on the global stage.

As Australians soured on Trump, both Dutton and Albanese took on a more pugnacious tone.

"If I needed to have a fight with Donald Trump or any other world leader, to advance our nation's interest, I'd do it in a heartbeat," Dutton said in April.

Albanese condemned Trump's tariffs as an act of "economic self-harm" and "not the act of a friend".

Economic concerns dominated the contest for the many Australian households struggling to pay inflated prices for milk, bread, power and petrol.

"The cost of living -- it's extremely high at the moment. So, taxes as well, is also another really big thing. Petrol prices, all the basic stuff," human resources manager Robyn Knox told AFP in Brisbane.

Small business owner Jared Bell had similar concerns.

"Our grocery shops are definitely way more expensive than they were a couple years ago," he said.

Campaign stumbles

Both Albanese and Dutton tried to tout themselves as men of the people but were stumped when asked the price of eggs in a nationally televised debate.

Coal-mining superpower Australia will choose between two leaders with sharply contrasting ideas on climate change and emissions reduction.

Albanese's government has embraced the global push towards decarbonisation, warning of a future in which iron ore and polluting coal exports no longer prop up the economy.

Dutton's signature policy is a US$200 billion scheme to construct seven industrial-scale nuclear reactors, doing away with the need to ramp up renewables.

The 36-day campaign was a largely staid affair but there were a few moments of unscripted levity.

Albanese tumbled backwards off the stage at a heaving campaign rally, while Dutton drew blood when he hit an unsuspecting cameraman in the head with a stray football.

It remains to be seen whether Albanese or Dutton will command an outright majority, or whether they are forced to cobble together a coalition with the support of minor parties.

Growing disenchantment among voters has emboldened independents pushing for greater transparency and climate progress.

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Polls have suggested 10 or more unaligned crossbenchers could hold the balance of power -- making a rare minority government a distinct possibility.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed

Humanitarian corridors advantages and disadvantages:

 

Humanitarian corridors are safe passage routes established during conflicts or disasters to allow civilians, aid workers, and humanitarian supplies to move safely. They can be temporary or sustained, depending on the situation. Here are the advantages and disadvantages:

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Advantages of Humanitarian Corridors

1. Safe Evacuation of Civilians

   • Protects vulnerable populations from active conflict zones, especially children, the elderly, and the injured.

2. Access to Humanitarian Aid

   • Enables delivery of essential supplies like food, water, and medical aid to people in besieged or inaccessible areas.

3. Facilitates Medical Assistance

   • Allows the sick or wounded to be evacuated for treatment, reducing civilian deaths and suffering.

4. Reduces Civilian Casualties

   • Creates a temporary pause in hostilities, offering protection and minimizing loss of life.

5. Supports International Humanitarian Law

   • Upholds principles of humanity and neutrality, promoting moral responsibility in war or crisis.

6. Pressure on Warring Parties

   • Encourages negotiation and temporary cooperation between opposing forces, sometimes leading to longer-term ceasefires.

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Disadvantages of Humanitarian Corridors

1. Risk of Being Exploited

   • Warring parties may misuse the corridor to regroup, move weapons, or gain strategic advantage.

2. Lack of Trust and Security Guarantees

   • Civilians and aid workers may be attacked if the corridor is not genuinely respected by all parties (e.g., “fake safe zones”).

3. Selective Access and Manipulation

   • Corridors may be used selectively, allowing evacuation only from areas under one party’s control, leading to forced displacement or ethnic cleansing.

4. Temporary Relief Only

   • Provides short-term assistance without addressing the root causes of the conflict or disaster.

5. Logistical Challenges

   • Requires coordination, monitoring, and often the involvement of neutral international bodies, which can delay implementation.

6. Political Manipulation

   • May be used by governments or militant groups to present themselves positively in the international arena while continuing abuses elsewhere.Here’s an example from the Ukraine–Russia war that clearly illustrates both the potential and the problems of humanitarian corridors:

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     Real-Life Example: Humanitarian Corridors in Ukraine (2022–Present)

     Context:
     After Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, several Ukrainian cities came under siege, such as Mariupol, Sumy, and parts of the Donbas region. Civilians were trapped without food, water, electricity, or medical care.

     ---

     Advantages Demonstrated:

     1. Evacuation of Thousands:
        In some successful instances, corridors allowed thousands of civilians to leave besieged areas like Sumy and Irpin, reducing civilian casualties.

     2. International Monitoring:
        The corridors were often coordinated with organizations like the Red Cross or the United Nations, giving them credibility and some level of safety assurance.

     3. Delivery of Aid:
        In limited cases, humanitarian convoys were allowed through to deliver essentials like water, medicine, and baby formula to towns cut off by shelling.

     ---

     Disadvantages and Failures:

     1. Attacks Despite Agreements:
        In Mariupol, several attempts to establish humanitarian corridors failed because of continuous shelling and reported attacks on evacuees, despite agreed ceasefires.

     2. Mistrust and Chaos:
        Many civilians refused to use corridors because they did not trust Russian forces or feared being forcibly relocated to Russian-controlled areas.

     3. Selective Control:
        Russia insisted on directing evacuees to Russian or Belarusian territory, rather than letting them escape to western Ukraine, raising international concern about forced displacement.

     4. Propaganda Use:
        Russia used the existence of corridors in state media to portray itself as humane, even as it was accused of targeting civilian infrastructure elsewhere.

     ---

      Summary:

     The Ukrainian example shows how humanitarian corridors can save lives but also become tools of manipulation, deception, or military strategy when not strictly monitored and respected by all parties.

     Would you like a comparison between humanitarian corridors in Ukraine and those in Syria or Gaza?

A massive tariff on millions of Americans’ purchases just went into effect — cue the chaos

 

CNN — 

Many Americans might not have felt major effects from President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs — until now.

That’s because a major shipping loophole expired at one minute past midnight on Friday. The de minimis exemption, as it’s known, allowed shipments of goods worth $800 or less to come into the United States duty-free, often more or less skipping time-consuming inspections and paperwork.

The loophole helped reshape the way countless Americans shop, allowing ultra-low-cost Chinese e-commerce sites like Shein, Temu and AliExpress to pour everything from yarn to patio furniture, clothes to photography equipment and more into US homes.

Its impending end has rung alarm bells across social media, with a baseline tariff as high as 145% depending on the carrier set to take effect on Chinese imports, potentially more than doubling the cost for all those cheap products deal-hungry Americans scooped up.

And the end of the de minimis exemption for Chinese goods will also distill abstract, complicated, messy, hard-to-follow trade policy into something much easier to understand: a receipt.

Major carriers like UPS, FedEx, DHL and the United States Postal Service say they’re prepared for the changes. The government says it, too, is set; a US Customs and Border Protection spokesperson told CNN that “We are prepared and equipped to carry out enhanced package screenings and enforce orders effectively.”

But whether regular American shoppers are ready for the changes is another matter.

Of tchotchkes and trade policy

When President Donald Trump initially closed the de minimis exemption for goods from Hong Kong and China earlier this year, chaos ensued.

USPS briefly stopped delivering parcels from China. Delivery times for parcels that did get shipped stretched longer, with limited information on package tracking in the US.

At the heart of the issue: the sheer volume of packages. More than 80% of total US e-commerce shipments in 2022 were de minimis imports, the vast majority of which come from China, according to a congressional research report.

CBP told CNN it currently processes “nearly 4 million duty-free de minimis shipments a day.” Research indicates that a majority of those shipments come from China and Hong Kong. In total, over the last fiscal year, CBP said 1.36 billion packages came to the US under the de minimis exemption.

That’s a lot of dog bandanas, bead kits, frosting spatulas and tchotchkes. Regular Temu and Shein shoppers told CNN this week they’ve increasingly turned to the site as they feel made-in-the-USA products have gotten out of reach.

“I can’t afford to buy from Temu now, and I already couldn’t afford to buy in this country,” Rena Scott, a 64-year-old retired nurse from Virginia, previously said to CNN Business.

Lower-income households will suffer the most from the end of cheap Chinese e-commerce sites. About 48% of de minimis packages shipped to the poorest zip codes in the United States, while 22% were delivered to the richest ones, according to February research from UCLA and Yale economists.

The changes could come in stages. Already, for example, Shein and Temu raised prices ahead of the de minimis exemption’s end, hiking prices on several goods tracked by CNN.

“Due to recent changes in global trade rules and tariffs, our operating expenses have gone up. To keep offering the products you love without compromising on quality, we will be making price adjustments,” Shein said in a notice posted online recently. “We’re doing everything we can to keep prices low and minimize the impact on you.”

A Temu spokesperson said the company was changing its business model to encourage more local fulfillment, growing the number of US sellers on the platform.

“Temu’s pricing for U.S. consumers remains unchanged as the platform transitions to a local fulfillment model,” the company said in a statement. “All sales in the U.S. are now handled by locally based sellers, with orders fulfilled from within the country.”

But some items are not available locally, a user wrote on Reddit, claiming that their digital cart of more than 300 items dwindled to two items recently and that there is an additional fee unless a local order is at least $30.

“Temu is gone! What I saw today completely convinced me!” the user wrote. “Local sellers, despite obviously buying some items in advance in a bulk, don’t have all these items I was interested in.”

It’s unclear if more price increases are on the way from those retailers and others.

Shippers, too, will see higher costs. DHL told CNN the company has “increased our staffing levels in order to support the additional volume of informal entry clearances we anticipate.”

Goods from China and Hong Kong shipped via UPS, DHL and FedEx are subject to a baseline 145% tariff, plus any additional product-specific tariffs. Goods shipped through USPS will be subject to a baseline 120% tariff or a flat $100 fee per postal item. Come June 1, the flat fee will increase to $200.

A core of Trump’s MAGA base remain with the president, saying in social media posts and news reports that they will ride out bumps in the economy with their faith in the president. But increasingly, more Americans feel otherwise.

A 59% majority of the public now says Trump’s policies have worsened US economic conditions, according to a CNN poll conducted by SSRS last month.

The survey was conducted from April 17 to 24, after the White House first announced expansive new tariffs on dozens of countries, and then called a pause on many of them. Even so, 6 in 10 respondents said that Trump’s policies have increased the cost of living in their community.

On Friday, with the de minimis exemption ending, many Americans could see those costs go even higher.

“It’s a very, it’s a big deal,” Trump said at a Cabinet meeting Thursday, calling the de minimis exception “a big scam.”

He added: “And we’ve ended, we put an end to it.”

CNN’s Ariel Edwards-Levy contributed reporting.

US urges restraint as Kashmir massacre tensions put India and Pakistan on edge

 The United States is stepping up pressure on India and Pakistan to avoid conflict in Kashmir after a tourist massacre in an Indian-administered area of the divided territory last week.

US Vice President JD Vance said Thursday that Washington hopes Pakistan will help hunt down the militants behind the attack, who are based in Pakistan-controlled territory.

And Vance urged India, which has accused Pakistan of being involved in the attack, to act with restraint so tensions do not explode into a war between the nuclear-armed neighbor

“Our hope here is that India responds to this terrorist attack in a way that doesn’t lead to a broader regional conflict,” Vance said in an interview on Fox News’ “Special Report with Bret Baier.”

“And we hope, frankly, that Pakistan, to the extent that they’re responsible, cooperates with India to make sure that the terrorists sometimes operating in their territory are hunted down and dealt with.”

Vance’s comments echoed those of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who on Wednesday spoke with top Pakistani and Indian officials and called on the two rivals to work with each other to “de-escalate tensions,” according to State Department readouts of the two calls.

Rubio “expressed his sorrow for the lives lost in the horrific terrorist attack in Pahalgam, and reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to cooperation with India against terrorism,” in his call with Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.

In his call with Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Rubio “spoke of the need to condemn the terror attack on April 22,” and urged Pakistani officials’ cooperation in the investigation.

Both leaders reaffirmed their continued commitment to holding terrorists accountable for their heinous acts of violence,” the readout said.

Fears of a broader conflict increased earlier this week when Pakistani Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said his country had “credible intelligence that India intends carrying out military action against Pakistan in the next 24-36 hours.”

That timeframe has now passed.

Militants on April 22 massacred 26 civilians, the vast majority tourists, in the mountainous town of Pahalgam in Indian-administered Kashmir, a rampage that has sparked widespread outrage.

India and Pakistan have since engaged in tit-for-tat hostilities.

India closed its airspace to commercial flights from Pakistan on Tuesday, matching Islamabad’s ban on flights from India, which was imposed last week in response to New Delhi’s cancelation of visas for Pakistani nationals and suspension of a key water sharing treaty.

This week, New Delhi and Islamabad have both been flexing their military might.

Pakistan shot down an Indian drone that was used for “espionage” in the disputed Kashmir region on Tuesday, Pakistani security sources told CNN.

Two days earlier, India’s navy said it had carried out test missile strikes to “revalidate and demonstrate readiness of platforms, systems and crew for long range precision offensive strike.”

Tensions have also been simmering along the de facto border, the Line of Control, in Kashmir, and gunfire was exchanged along the disputed border for seven straight nights.

Meanwhile, Pakistani authorities continue to believe an Indian attack is highly likely a a senior Pakistani official told CNN on Friday.

The official said four Indian fighter jets flew close to Pakistani airspace in the direction of Pakistani-controlled Kashmir on what Pakistani authorities assessed to be an attack mission early Wednesday, but rather than cross the border, diverted to a nearby base. The official noted that Pakistani jets were also in the area. CNN cannot independently verify the allegations.

CNN has reached out to the Indian government, army and air force for comment on the official’s allegations.

The official also praised efforts by the Trump administration to defuse tensions as even-handed and helpful.