“…The experiences of these young Palestinians reflect a deteriorating economic reality in the shattered enclave, where the unemployment rate has risen to more than 80 per cent, and much of the population is focused on securing daily necessities: according to data from the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, the price of basic commodities in the Gaza Strip increased by 37.9 per cent during February 2026, further increasing pressure on families.
A joint report by the United Nations and the European Union estimates Gaza’s recovery and reconstruction needs at $71.4 billion over 10 years, including $26.3 billion required within 18 months to restore basic services, rebuild infrastructure and support the economy.
Gaza’s economy has contracted by 84 per cent, the report says, underscoring the depth of the crisis that has pushed thousands of graduates and workers into informal activities simply to get by…”