How did border closures affect employment for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip?

Border closures have historically had a severe impact on employment for Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. In periods of political stability, a significant portion of the Palestinian workforce—up to one-tenth of the population—relied on daily travel to Israel for employment in menial jobs.1

However, political tensions and outbreaks of violence frequently prompted Israeli authorities to close the border for extended periods, which directly resulted in many Palestinians losing their jobs. Following the implementation of a blockade in 2007, the region faced persistent economic hardship, characterized by inadequate infrastructure and high rates of unemployment.12

The impact of these restrictions has been profound, as the economy is heavily dependent on external trade and access to labor markets. While there have been rare instances of easing, such as in 2019 when Israel began allowing thousands of Gazans to cross the border to work, the overall trend of restricted movement has consistently undermined the stability of the Palestinian labor market.12