The International Labour Organization said on Monday that the war between Israel and the Palestinians is making more than half of the unemployed in the occupied West Bank and Gaza fall below the 50% mark.
The latest report showed that Israel started a military operation in Gaza to strike back at Hamas for attacks across the border on October 7, 2023, that killed many people and cost more than 500,000 jobs.
It said that if the conflict continues until end-March, the unemployment rate will soar to 57%.
Ruba Jaradat, ILO Regional Director for Arab States, stated that the destruction of infrastructure and schools, hospitals, and businesses in Gaza has decimated entire economic sectors and paralyzed labor market activity. This will have untold repercussions on the lives and livelihoods of Palestinians for generations to come.
About two-thirds of total employment in the enclave have been lost, accounting for some 200,000 jobs in Gaza.
The report described “near lockdown” conditions in the West Bank, with more than 650 permanent and temporary checkpoints across the territory having significant negative effects on the economy. It said that there have already been a loss of more than 300,000 jobs, which accounts for about a third of total employment.
