8/6/2019 A Crippled Gaza Economy

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Rafah crossing: To be openedpermanently from 09:00 to 17:00except Fridays and holidays

Rafahcamp

Deir al-Balah camp

Jabaliya

Bureij

Maghazi

Nuseirat

Shati

KhanYouniscamp

Erez 

Kissufim 

Sufa 

Karni 

Kerem Shalom 

Nahol Oz 

AirportNot in use

Rafah

Deir al-Balah

GazaCity

KhanYounis

BeitHanoun

E G Y P T

I S R A E L

G A Z A

S T R I P  

2.5 miles

4km

Rafahcamp

Deir al-Balah camp

Jabaliya

Bureij

Maghazi

Nuseirat

Shati

KhanYouniscamp

Erez

Kissufim

Sufa

Karni

Kerem

Shalom

Nahol Oz

AirportNot in use

Rafah

Deir al-Balah

GazaCity

KhanYounis

BeitHanoun

MEDITERRANEAN 

SEA

E G Y P T

I S R A E L

G A Z A

S T R I P  

 A crippled Gaza economy Unemployment in the Gaza Strip remains among the highest in the world

and real wages have slumped by an estimated 34.5% since 2007 when

Israel tightened its blockade, according to a new UN report

IN MINUTES News and events — visually 

Gaza Strippopulation

1,657,000

Working-agepopulation*862,000

Labour force347,540(40.3% ofworking age population )

Employed

190,360(54.8% oflabour force)

Unemployed157,180 (45.2%)

*Age 15 years or older 

Agestructure

53.5%15-64 years

43.9%0-14 years

2.6%65 years & over

Sources: Graphic News; UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA); wire services QMI AGENCY

Average non-refugee daily wage

(second halfof 2010)

$15.80 US

300,000People earing

less than$1.25

a day

70%of the

population is

below thepoverty line

Egypt opens border with Gaza StripEgypt’s decision to open its border in May with Gaza to ease entry restrictionsfor Palestinians marked a further policy shift since the overthrow of PresidentHosni Mubarak, whose government co-operated with Israel in enforcing thefour-year blockade of the Hamas-ruled territory.

Some goods that have beenblocked from entering Gaza

Gaza

Many items are illegally smuggled into thecountry through underground tunnels.

• One of the most denselypopulated places on Earth

Israel controlsGaza’s Mediterra-

nean coastline andairspace; Israeli

drones patrol the

skies; shipsenforce a mari-

time blockadefive km from

shore.

In 2006, Hamas won parliamentary elections inGaza and, the next year, drove out Fatah in abloody four-day civil war. Hamas, which refusesto recognize Israel’s right to exist, firedthousands of rockets into Israel, killing andwounding dozens of civilians and unnerving thepopulation. Hamas also infuriated Israelis byrefusing to return a kidnapped soldier, GiladShalit, whom militants had abducted from anIsraeli border post in 2006. In 2007, Israelimposed a full blockade.

Israel’s goal is to weaken Hamas and reduce itscapacity for terrorism. They hope that Palestin-ians will weary of deprivation and oust Hamas.

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How did the blockade begin? Jan 2006: Hamas wins Palestinian Authority legislative election2006: Israel imposes blockade after Israeli solider Gilad Shalit

is snatched by Gaza-base militants

Jun 2007: Hamas seizes control of Gaza from Fatah after wave offighting that kills over 100 people. Israel tightens blockade of Gaza Strip

Dec 2008: Israel launches full scale invasion — around 1,400Palestinians killed

May 2010: Israeli forces seize aid convoy of six ships aiming tobreak through blockade, killing nine Turkish activists

May 3, 2011: Unity deal between Fatah and Hamas signed

May 28: Egypt opens border

Blockade timeline

• Most residents are Palestinianrefugees from families that fledthere when Israel was established,in 1948.

• anything that could aid in the making ofarmaments or fortifications• concrete• steel

• wood for construction• automobiles• computers• fruit juice• chocolate• coriander, cumin, ginger, nutmeg• newspapers• fabric for clothing• horses, goats, cattle, chickens, donkeys• fishing rods.

Crossingpoints

Refugeecamps