The United Nations has issued a stark warning that the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza could reverse more than six decades of progress in the region. A new UN report forecasts that indicators such as life expectancy, education, income, and living standards could return to levels seen in 1955. The UN Development Programme (UNDP) cautions that without lifting economic restrictions and investing in development, the Palestinian economy may not recover, relying solely on humanitarian aid.
UNDP Administrator Achim Steiner emphasized the long-term consequences of the conflict, stating that the war is not only causing immense suffering but also creating a development crisis that threatens the future of Palestinians for generations. This report comes as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visits the region, focusing on ways to help Palestinians rebuild their lives and escape Hamas’s control.
The war, which began with a Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, has resulted in significant casualties and destruction. The Israeli military campaign has left over 42,000 people dead in Gaza and displaced most of the population. The UN report indicates that poverty is set to rise dramatically in the Palestinian territories, with more than 4 million people affected, including 2.6 million newly impoverished.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has condemned Israel’s actions in Gaza, calling the region “no longer fit for life.” A recent UN inquiry also accused Israel of deliberately destroying Gaza’s healthcare system and committing war crimes. Israel has rejected these claims, calling them “outrageous.”