More than half a million Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank have lost their jobs since the outbreak of Israel’s war in October 2023, according to a Palestinian trade union.
In a statement, the Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions said that workers face systematic blockade, closure, and daily raids by the Israeli army.
The Israeli policies "constitute a compounded crime" against Palestinian workers and undermine their natural right to work and live in dignity, it added.
"Israeli occupation policies over more than two years of continuous aggression have led to more than 500,000 Palestinian workers losing their livelihood, with unemployment rates rising to unprecedented levels exceeding 50% in the West Bank and more than 84% in the Gaza Strip," the statement said.
It explained that Palestinian workers incurred losses of over $9 billion due to being prevented from reaching their workplaces, in addition to the destruction of local productive sectors, primarily agriculture, construction, and services.
