Accra:The Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) has reported a significant rise in the trade deficit for goods in Palestine in August 2026. The deficit increased by 17% compared to August 2025, reaching $559.6 million, despite a 23% rise in exports during the same period, which amounted to $217.0 million.
According to Yemen News Agency, Palestinian Minister of Labor Inas Al-Attari disclosed that the unemployment rate in Palestine escalated to approximately 49% in the second quarter of 2026. This spike in unemployment highlights the worsening crisis in the labor market, attributed to Israeli policies and actions. The unemployment rate was about 28% in the West Bank and over 80% in the Gaza Strip, exacerbated by ongoing conflict, economic facility destruction, and the disruption of productive activities.
Minister Al-Attari emphasized the gravity of the economic crisis, noting the limited employment opportunities and the shrinking capacity of economic sectors to accommodate job seekers. She highlighted that over 140,000 Palestinian workers have been unable to access their workplaces in the occupied interior since October 2023, and around 300,000 workers in the West Bank have been impacted by movement restrictions and market access issues due to checkpoints and closures.
Wage losses have been severe, estimated at approximately 902 million shekels monthly, totaling nearly 10.8 billion shekels annually. These losses have significantly affected the incomes of Palestinian households, reducing their purchasing power and local economic activity. Minister Al-Attari also addressed the violations faced by Palestinian workers, including killings, injuries, arrests, and mistreatment, stressing that these abuses have broader impacts on their families and Palestinian society.
She called for more robust international efforts to protect workers' rights and hold violators accountable under international law and relevant agreements.
