By: Dr. Raed Muhammad Hillis.
(Exclusively for al-Zaytouna Centre).
Al-Zaytouna Centre for Studies and Consultations has published an academic paper entitled “The Effects of the Comprehensive Israeli Siege on the Gaza Strip and their Implications on the Youth,” by Dr. Raed Muhammad Hillis.
This study aims to monitor the repercussions of the Israeli siege and wars on the economic conditions of Gaza Strip (GS), and the impact of these harsh conditions on all segments of society, youth in particular.
Click here to download: >>Academic Paper: The Effects of the Comprehensive Israeli Siege on the Gaza Strip and their Implications on the Youth … Dr. Raed Muhammad Hillis  (19 pages, 1.4 MB) |
The importance of the study lies in the fact that it discusses how the Palestinian economy was hit hard by repeated shocks, which limited the possibility of its development and led to periodic and continuous fluctuations in many economic indicators, thus affecting a large segment of the society. Hillis explains that the 15-year old siege was a major shock, and that the schism of June 2007 gave Israel the excuse to consider GS a hostile entity. Thus, Israel imposed the siege and tightened its grip on resources and borders, and paralyzed the ability of the Palestinian side to make decisions, which led to undermining the Palestinian economy and preventing its growth and development. Israel also controlled cash entry and exit, and launched four major military attacks in 2008, 2012, 2014 and 2021, which led to the deterioration of the economic and social conditions in all sectors, especially the productive ones. The occupation forces killed 5,418 during these attacks and totally destroyed 12,631 housing units, 3,118 commercial establishments, 557 factories, 2,237 vehicles and 2,755 public facilities. The total economic damage and losses in economic sectors during the major Israeli attacked amounted to around $7,636 million.
The researcher pointed out that the Israeli blockade has plunged GS into unemployment, poverty, food insecurity and the erosion of the productive base due to heavy economic losses. The GS economic growth decreased from 5.7% (1994–2005) to 1.1% (2006–2021), while the weak contribution of the industrial sector did not exceed an average of 10.7% during the siege years. Also, the contribution of the industrial sector to absorbing labor force in GS did not exceed 7.3% in 2020, while the agricultural sector’s contribution to the GDP did not exceed an average of 11.4% throughout the years of siege. The commercial sector is one of the most prominent economic sectors affected by the total siege due to the decline in exports and imports. In 1996–2006, prior to the siege period, the GS exports reached $42.5 million, while during the siege, in 2007–2020, they reached an average of $7 million. Similarly, in 1996–2006, prior to the siege period, the GS imports reached $621.3 million, while during the siege, in 2007–2020, they reached an average of $559.3 million. This decline of exports and imports has caused monthly losses of about $10 million.
To mitigate the impact of the siege, tunnel trade emerged, and although it was one of the solutions, it harmed the Palestinian economy due to its risks and negative impact. For it turned the GS into a consumer market, as no material or commodity was exported through the tunnels, and also plunged the Strip into a cash crisis as a result of exporting money and importing goods.
Hillis said that these combined repercussions have negatively impacted all economic sectors and all segments of society, especially youth. The unemployment rate in the Strip increased from 30.3% in 2005 to 46.9% in 2021. Also, 53% of the GS population suffers poverty, while 68.5% suffers food insecurity, and poverty among young Gazans (20–29 years) reached about 57% in 2021. Consequently, the percentage of youth (15–29 years), who hold a diploma or above and desire to migrate reached 41.8% compared to 35.8% among those holding a high school diploma while the percentage among young people with qualification lower than high school reached 35.9%.
The study concludes that all parties, including the government, private sector institutions and civil society institutions, must participate to empower the youth in their homeland, improve their living conditions and reduce the phenomenon of migration which has become a major problem of concern, in addition schism must end and reconciliation must be completed. The study also recommends urging the international community to put pressure on Israel to lift the siege and allow the free movement of people and goods, in addition to stopping the repeated military attacks on the Strip.
Click here to download: >>Academic Paper: The Effects of the Comprehensive Israeli Siege on the Gaza Strip and their Implications on the Youth … Dr. Raed Muhammad Hillis (19 pages, 1.4 MB) |
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