Two months after conflict, Gaza remains paralysed

Israel’s insistence on linking the issue of imports and reconstruction to the release of four Israelis believed held by Hamas has led to a surge in unemployment

Gaza: Two months after war, Palestinian enclave remains paralysed (Middle East Eye)
Two months after Israel and Hamas reached a ceasefire marking the end of an 11-day conflict that killed 248 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip and 13 people in Israel, life has remained at a standstill for many in the blockaded Palestinian enclave.

The two million Palestinians living in Gaza continue to face tight Israeli restrictions on the entry of goods into the small territory, causing a major economic recession while making reconstruction impossible.

While Egypt’s mediation has succeeded in putting an end to the killing and destruction, Cairo’s efforts have yet to succeed in bringing the situation in Gaza back to pre-war levels - a status quo which was already precarious and strained for its residents, already living for 14 years under an Israeli-led siege.

Amid Israel’s insistence on linking the issue of imports and reconstruction to the release of four Israelis believed to be held by Hamas, analysts are split on whether the ongoing paralysis in Gaza could spark further confrontation down the line.

Officials in Gaza have warned that strict Israeli restrictions have had negative effects on all aspects of life in the besieged Palestinian territory, leading to an unprecedented rise in poverty and unemployment rates.

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