Gaza jobless rate reached 60% after Israel war

During the aggression, which lasted for 50 days, entire industrial zones were directly hit by Israeli warplanes and tanks, some of them beyond repair.

Businesses lost millions of dollars worth of machinery and equipment and two office buildings housing dozens of companies were completely destroyed.

“Most businesses in Gaza were targeted during the war and that has played a major role in the sharp increase in unemployment,” said Moeen Rajab, a professor of economics.

“Many companies are currently unable to operate in the same capacity they did before the war and many workers have no place to work. The slow reconstruction process is not helping the situation and I expect unemployment rate to continue to climb,” he added.

According to the World Bank, nearly every second person in Gaza was unemployed even before the recent Israeli war. Unemployed workers say they have lost hope of getting any work.

“Most of us are sitting around without work because we have no factories to return to. After the war, things only got worse and it’s near-impossible to find any type of job. Many carpenters, plumbers, construction workers, and mechanics have lost their jobs,” said one man.

Israel heavily pounded the blockaded coastal sliver in a recent war that started on July 8 and ended on August 26 with an Egyptian-brokered truce.

Over 2,140 Palestinians, mostly civilians, including women, children, and the elderly, were killed in the 50 days of the Israeli onslaught on Gaza. Around 11,000 others were injured.

Gaza has been blockaded since 2007, which is a situation that has caused a decline in the standard of living, unprecedented levels of unemployment, and unrelenting poverty.

HK