Cairo – About 1.7 million Palestinians, a majority of them refugees, live in one of the mostly densely populated regions in the world. Since June 2007, when Hamas gained control of the strip, Israel and Egypt have restricted trade and movement in and out of Gaza. Israel says the closure is meant to weaken Gaza’s Hamas rulers and prevent militants from attacking targets in Israel. International aid groups say the blockade has seriously harmed Gaza’s economy as well as its health system and infrastructure.
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Here’s a brief look at the economic impact of the border blockade and the humanitarian situation in Gaza:
IMPORTS
Israel allows many consumer goods and medicine into Gaza, but restricts the import of construction material it says can be diverted by Hamas for military use. International aid agencies are exempt from the import ban on cement and steel.
EXPORTS
Since 2007, Israel has banned Palestinians in Gaza from exporting goods to Israel and the West Bank. Such exports had made up the bulk of Gaza’s outgoing produce and manufactured goods, according to the Gisha Legal Center for Freedom of Movement. There have been a few exceptions. Israel allows Gaza goods to be exported to third countries, leaving from Israel’s main airport, but the high transportation costs deter such shipments.
Gish says Gaza’s exports make up just 2 percent of what they were before 2007.
CROSSINGS
Israel operates two main border crossings with Gaza: Kerem Shalom for cargo and Erez for passengers. Israel only permits select groups to leave Gaza, including those seeking medical treatment in Israel and traders.
UNEMPLOYMENT
The official unemployment rate is close to 50 percent.
REFUGEES
There are more than 1.2 million registered Palestinian refugees in Gaza, and over half a million live in eight officially recognized refugee camps, according to UNRWA, the U.N. refugee agency for Palestinians.
HUMANITARIAN AID
About 80 percent of the population in the Gaza Strip is dependent on some type of international aid assistance, according to UNRWA, the U.N. refugee agency for Palestinians.
what a poorly reported one sided , mostly opinion piece of reporting.
The economy and employment statistics may mirror those of Lakewood.
so….kill them all?
If 80% are on welfare where does the money for guns and rockets come from? At least now there will be plenty of work for them after the fighting ends.
Where are they refugees from??? What is their original country?
The article is very biased. If you look at the original article it’s written by surprise,surprise to Arabs!! So your telling me Israel should just open the boarders so Hamas can arbitrarily send in hidden terrorists to carry out murder? Are you out of your mind? It’s not for naught that the boarder is closed! Dear Gazans, get rid of Hamas, recognize Israel and come up with a 2 state solution. It’s pretty obvious. Until then expect dismal results while your governed by barbaric (they literally hold babies for protection as they shoot at the IDF) psychotic terrorist that refuse to accept reality! Go to Bellevue and try to reason with the patients!
spare me- my violin is broken as is this UNRWA system which essentially mimics welfare and SSI in this country….encourages them to stay in their refugee camps, unemployed with big screen TV and smart phones.
Funny, both systems are paid for by my working dollars 🙁
Maybe Obama should run for president in Gaza after he’s done in the USA.