Doha: Head of the General Federation of Palestinian Trade Unions in the Gaza Strip, Sami Al Amssi, affirmed that the genocidal war waged by the Israeli occupation on the Gaza Strip has resulted in the suspension of around 400,000 workers from their jobs and raised the unemployment rate in the Strip to 77 percent during 2025.
According to Qatar News Agency, Al Amssi stated that the war of extermination has pushed workers into catastrophic levels of extreme poverty and food insecurity. The labor market is facing the repercussions of the war, whose effects are expected to extend for many years.
Al Amssi explained that the Israeli war on the Gaza Strip has devastated vital sectors and economic projects, pushing thousands of Palestinian workers into unemployment. These workers, who were once productive laborers, now find themselves in need of aid and assistance.
The ongoing Israeli aggression has destroyed all industrial, commercial, and agricultural sectors, eliminating the foundations necessary for the revival of these fields. The continued tight Israeli siege and closure of the Gaza Strip, along with the prevention of the entry of materials needed to restart industries, mean that thousands of Palestinian workers face a future below the poverty line with extreme poverty and food insecurity.
Al Amssi highlighted that since the aggression began on October 7, 2023, all labor sectors have come to a complete halt. This includes the construction sector with 40,000 workers, metal workshops with nearly 10,000 workers, agriculture with about 35,000 workers, and public transport with around 20,000 drivers.
The fishing sector, employing around 4,000 fishermen and workers, along with the tailoring sector employing about 8,000 workers, and the restaurant and tourism sector employing 5,000 workers, have all been severely affected. The industrial sector, employing around 8,000 workers, has also pushed many into unemployment.
Al Amssi revealed that losses were approximately $4 billion in the economic sector, $4.5 billion in the commercial sector, $2.8 billion in transport and communications, and $2.8 billion in the agricultural sector.
He pointed out that agricultural lands and water wells have been destroyed, annual vegetable production has declined, and fish stocks have been damaged by 100 percent due to the destruction of hundreds of fishing boats. This threatens food security in Gaza for years to come, leading to dangerously high levels of food insecurity.
Al Amssi concluded by stating that the start of the second phase of the ceasefire and compensating labor sectors for their losses is essential to alleviate workers' suffering. He emphasized that Gaza's workers have shown resilience in previous wars and will not stand helpless if the necessary resources are provided.