End the siege, says MP as unemployment in Gaza hits quarter of a million

Israeli measures to tighten the siege on Gaza aim to undermine development of the coastal enclave, aggravate its crises and raise the unemployment rate, the head of the Popular Committee against the Siege said on Tuesday. “Unemployment,” added Jamal Al-Khoudary, “now stands at a quarter of a million people.”

In a statement, the independent Palestinian MP said that the Israeli siege is now 10 years old. “This is represented by the closure of most crossings and restrictions on individual and commercial movement, including a ban on raw materials which has forced the closure of 80 per cent of Gaza’s factories.” His comments were reported by Felesteen online.

“The siege has used fake pretexts to undermine the import of construction material and other vital supplies needed in Gaza,” he explained. “This has delayed the reconstruction of the infrastructure which was destroyed by the Israeli occupation army during its offensives against Palestinian civilians.” He pointed out that these restrictions undermined the natural development of private sector projects, universities, electricity and water supplies, and other projects and enterprises.

Al-Khoudary called for the unconditional opening of all the border crossings to allow the movement of goods and people as well as exports and imports. The siege, he stressed, is a “flagrant violation” of international laws and conventions, including the Fourth Geneva Convention.