25.01.18
IDF Editorial Team Humanitarian Situation in the Gaza Strip: Background
Since Hamas' takeover, the humanitarian situation in the Gaza Strip has sharply deteriorated. High population growth rates have strained Gaza's already struggling economy, slowing down the reconstruction process and placing an unsustainable burden on infrastructure. In 2017, unemployment in the Gaza Strip reached 46%. According to an EU-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor report, 65% of Gazans live in poverty and 80% are dependent on international aid.
In addition, lack of necessary resources continues to have a detrimental effect on the population. Although a large amount of building materials enters Gaza from Israel (more than 3.5 million tons of construction material in 2016 alone), a significant portion does not reach construction companies, and is instead diverted to Hamas' tunnel building activities. With many building projects frozen as a result, housing prices have risen significantly and unemployment has swelled. A difficult electricity situation in Gaza began in early 2017 when Gaza's only power plant was shut down due to lack of fuel. When the Palestinian Authority ceased payments for Gaza's electricity supply in June 2017, supply was cut by about 40%, leaving Gaza residents with only four to six hours of electricity a day. As a result of the electricity shortage, sewage treatment plants have stopped working as well, causing an increase in the level of water pollution. After suffering from this shortage for over half a year, payments once again resumed in January 2018 in the wake of the Palestinian reconciliation agreements and supply was restored to previous levels of 6-8 hours of electricity a day. Despite this slight relief, the situation is still a tremendous strain on the residents and economy of Gaza.
The factors contributing to the deteriorating situation in Gaza are many. Due to Hamas' practice of using civilian infrastructure and buildings for military purposes, three military conflicts with Israel have left extensive damage to the Gaza Strip. Relatedly, Gaza's isolation has worsened as a result of shooting attacks towards the crossings, former ties to Islamic State terrorists in the Sinai Peninsula that caused severe limitations on use of the Rafah crossing, and the discovery of a Hamas terror tunnel under the Kerem Shalom crossing that led to the crossing's temporary closure.
25.01.18
