Press Release
On the Occasion of International Workers’ Day
Al-Dameer: Gaza’s Workers Caught Between Hunger and Economic Annihilation as Their Suffering Deepens
Al-Dameer Association for Human Rights – Gaza states that, on International Workers’ Day, Palestinian workers in general—and those in the Gaza Strip in particular—are enduring a tragic reality marked by further deprivation of their fundamental rights as a direct result of Israeli occupation policies and practices.
This occasion comes at a time when the situation of workers in Gaza remains catastrophic. Workers are facing acute poverty, hunger, and a complete lack of job security. With the destruction of thousands of industrial and commercial facilities, the near-total paralysis of production, the disruption of supply chains, and the tightening blockade, the labor market in Gaza has collapsed in an unprecedented manner.
Data from the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics indicate that unemployment rates in the Gaza Strip have exceeded 70% as of early 2026, surpassing 75% among youth. In the West Bank, unemployment has risen to approximately 30%, amid a sharp decline in job opportunities and the loss of income sources for tens of thousands of workers. This reflects an unprecedented collapse of the Palestinian labor market. Graduates are among the most affected groups. Indicators also point to a severe decline in average daily wages, a growing reliance of households on humanitarian assistance, and a deepening of extreme poverty in Gaza, now affecting the majority of the population.
Al-Dameer affirms that the blockade, closure policies, and repeated violations of ceasefire agreements obstruct any prospects for economic recovery or job creation. These conditions trap workers in cycles of extreme poverty and forced dependency on humanitarian aid, in clear violation of international human rights standards and agreements concluded between the relevant parties concerning the Gaza Strip.
Al-Dameer expresses its full solidarity with Palestinian workers on this day and emphasizes that the resilience of the working class remains a fundamental pillar in confronting this catastrophe. The organization reiterates its commitment to defending workers’ economic and social rights as an integral part of the broader human rights framework.
Accordingly, Al-Dameer calls for:
- Urgent and effective international action to exert pressure to end the war on the Gaza Strip, halt all policies that contribute to the destruction of the Palestinian economy, and ensure the protection of economic and social rights, foremost among them the right to work.
- The adoption of a comprehensive and immediate economic recovery plan focused on the reconstruction of Gaza, support for small and medium productive enterprises, and the provision of both emergency and sustainable employment programs that safeguard workers’ dignity.
- Intensified efforts to defend workers’ rights, monitor violations, and amplify the voice of the working class at both local and international levels.
Al-Dameer Association for Human Rights – Gaza