The occupation policies have deprived half a million Palestinians of their livelihoods since the genocide

The General Federation of Palestinian Trade Unions stated that Israeli policies since the start of the war on Gaza have resulted in more than half a million Palestinian workers in the West Bank and Gaza losing their livelihoods.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the Federation condemned the systematic siege, continuous closures, and daily raids imposed on Palestinian workers in the occupied West Bank.

It indicated that these policies constitute a compounded crime against Palestinian workers, violating their fundamental right to work and a dignified life.

The statement further noted that “the occupation’s policies during more than two years of continuous aggression have led to more than 500,000 Palestinian workers losing their livelihoods, and unemployment rates have risen to unprecedented levels, exceeding 50 percent in the West Bank and reaching more than 84 percent in the Gaza Strip.”

He explained that “the economic losses incurred by Palestinian workers exceeded $9 billion, as a result of preventing them from accessing their workplaces inside the 1948 territories (inside Israel) and the settlements, in addition to the destruction of local productive sectors, most notably agriculture, construction and services, due to the ongoing security and military siege for 27 months.”