2024-05-05 14:08:09
Direct damage to the infrastructure of the Gaza Strip as a result of the escalating conflict with Israel amounts to $18.5 billion, equal to 97% of Palestine’s GDP in 2022. This is stated in the published report of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) entitled “War in Gaza: expected socio-economic consequences for the State of Palestine,” Day.Az reports with reference to TASS.
“According to the results at the end of January 2024, the amount of damage caused in Gaza is equal to 97% of the total GDP of the State of Palestine in 2022,” the document states.
It is noted that most of the damage occurs in residential buildings and retail facilities (72%), another 9% occurs in industrial enterprises and the service sector, and the remaining 19% are critical infrastructure facilities. The report states that all sectors of the Palestinian economy, without exception, suffered “severe damage”, with the most serious decline in economic performance occurring in the construction sector.
UNDP estimates that Palestine’s GDP could decline by 25.8% if fighting continues in 2024. The report’s authors indicate that hostilities in the Gaza Strip “will be left to future generations [палестинцев] additional economic and social costs, which will be an obstacle to post-war reconstruction and development in the occupied Palestinian territories.”
The situation in the Middle East sharply worsened after the infiltration of Hamas militants from the Gaza Strip into Israeli territory on October 7, 2023, which was accompanied by the killing of residents of border settlements and the taking of more than 240 hostages. In response, Israel launched a military operation in Gaza with the aim of destroying the military and political structure of Hamas and releasing all those abducted. At the end of November 2023, through the mediation of Egypt and Qatar, a temporary humanitarian truce was established, which lasted a week. During this time, according to Israel, 110 hostages were released. On December 1, the ceasefire was violated, hostilities resumed and continue to this day.