Report: Half a million Palestinians lose jobs since October 2023

Over 500,000 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza have lost their livelihoods since the start of Israel’s war on Gaza in October 2023, Anadolu Agency reported on Saturday.

The Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions said on Saturday that Israeli-imposed blockades, frequent closures, and daily military raids have left workers unable to earn a living, describing the policies as a “compounded crime” that violates Palestinians’ fundamental right to work and live with dignity.

“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 percent in the West Bank and more than 84 percent in the Gaza Strip,” the statement said.

The statement said Palestinian workers have suffered losses of over $9 billion, both from being prevented from reaching their workplaces and from the destruction of various sectors.

A total of 44 workers have been killed, hundreds injured, and over 34,000 others detained by the Israeli army since October 2023, the federation said.