
No Economic Stability Under Genocide: The Socio-Economic Toll of Occupation on Palestinians
For decades, the Palestinian people have lived under the shadow of occupation, facing systemic violence, displacement, and economic deprivation. Recent studies expose a grim reality: there can be no meaningful economic stability when a population is subjected to what many international experts describe as a system of apartheid and ongoing genocide.
Genocide and the Collapse of Economic Foundations
Economic stability requires security, freedom, and access to resources—none of which exist under conditions of occupation. Israeli policies of forced displacement, home demolitions, and land confiscation continue to erode the foundations of the Palestinian economy. A 2024 report by Amnesty International details how these measures, coupled with a military blockade on Gaza and systematic targeting of Palestinian industries, destroy not just livelihoods but the hope of future recovery.
Entire communities in Gaza have been decimated by repeated military assaults, leaving infrastructure in ruins. The blockade, now in its 18th year, has turned Gaza into what the UN once described as an "unlivable" open-air prison, where even basic necessities like clean water and electricity are scarce.
The Incompatibility of Genocide and Development
Genocide isn’t just about mass killings—it’s the systematic destruction of a people and their way of life. Economic suffocation is one tool of this destruction. Palestinians are denied access to natural resources, trade routes, and global markets. A 2023 study by Oxfam revealed that Israeli policies in the West Bank prevent Palestinians from accessing 68% of their agricultural land, forcing reliance on imported goods at inflated prices.
These measures are not accidental; they are part of a broader strategy to weaken Palestinian resilience and sever their connection to the land. Under such conditions, attempts at economic development are not just stifled—they are rendered impossible.
No Path to Economic Growth Amid Violence
The violence isn’t only physical—it’s economic and psychological. The deliberate destruction of infrastructure, from schools to hospitals to factories, leaves no room for stability or growth. According to thePalestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) unemployment in Gaza exceeds 45%, and poverty impacts nearly 80% of the population. These figures are not merely economic—they are a testament to the human cost of an intentional strategy to dismantle Palestinian society.
Even in the West Bank, where economic activity persists despite severe restrictions, the expansion of illegal settlements and military checkpoints fragments Palestinian communities and trade routes. A 2024 World Bank report highlighted that Israeli-imposed barriers cost the Palestinian economy $3.4 billion annually—an economic hemorrhage designed to maintain dependency and prevent self-sufficiency.
Economic Resilience is Not Enough
While the world often celebrates the resilience of Palestinians, resilience is not a solution to systemic oppression. Grassroots initiatives, such as cooperative businesses and cultural preservation projects, provide critical support to local communities but operate within a system designed to stifle growth.
The international community frequently responds with aid, but aid cannot fix what systemic violence destroys. The $3 billion in annual aid to the occupied Palestinian territories is a Band-Aid over a wound that requires justice and accountability to heal. As a 2024 report by Al-Haq argues, no amount of aid can replace the need for freedom, sovereignty, and the right to live without fear of violence.
Justice First, Stability Later
True economic stability can only emerge in a context where human rights are upheld. The ongoing genocide against Palestinians must be recognized and stopped before discussions of economic recovery can take place. As long as Palestinians are denied the right to exist freely on their own land, every effort toward economic development will be undermined by policies of destruction.
The international community has a moral and legal obligation to intervene:
- Demand an end to the Israeli occupation and the blockade of Gaza.
- Hold Israel accountable for its violations of international law.
- Support Palestinian-led efforts to rebuild industries and infrastructure in the wake of decades of destruction.
Conclusion
Economic stability and development are impossible under genocide. The international community must stop treating the symptoms of this crisis—poverty, unemployment, and dependency on aid—and address its root cause: the systemic violence and oppression perpetuated by the occupation. Until Palestinians are free, their economy—and their future—will remain under siege.