On May Day, Gaza’s workers find whatever source of income they can
Al Jazeera • • world
Key Points:
- Ibrahim Abu al-Eish, a 24-year-old labourer in Gaza, clears rubble from buildings destroyed during Israel’s war, working long hours in dangerous conditions to support his large family amid Gaza’s economic crisis.
- Unemployment in Gaza has surged to 80 percent due to the ongoing conflict, with over 250,000 workers losing their jobs and poverty rates exceeding 93 percent, leading to widespread food insecurity.
- Humanitarian aid restrictions and Israel’s blockade have exacerbated the crisis, leaving more than 95 percent of Gaza’s population reliant on aid and hindering economic recovery.
- Many workers, like Yousef al-Rifi who lost his bakery and home, now take low-paying, unstable jobs under harsh conditions, struggling to meet basic needs and forced to borrow or sell possessions to survive.
- Despite the severe challenges and risks, Gaza’s workforce continues to endure grueling labor out of necessity, with little hope for improvement in the near future.
