The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (UNESCWA) have jointly released an assessment highlighting the profound socioeconomic impacts of the Gaza conflict. The report indicates that poverty in the State of Palestine is projected to rise to 74.3% in 2024, affecting over 4 million people, including 2.61 million newly impoverished individuals. The gross domestic product (GDP) is expected to contract by 35.1% compared to a no-war scenario, with unemployment potentially reaching 49.9%.
The assessment underscores the urgent need for lifting economic restrictions and investing in recovery and development to restore pre-war levels. Without such measures, reliance on humanitarian aid alone may not suffice to rebuild the economy.