Gaza's Progress Might Vanish, UN Warns

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) issued a stark warning that Israel's war in Gaza could wipe out over 69 years of progress. This means that crucial indicators like life expectancy, education, income, and living standards could drop to where they were in 1955. The UNDP emphasized that without lifting economic restrictions and investing in development, the Palestinian economy might not recover on its own. They also stressed that this crisis could affect future generations of Palestinians.This report comes at a time when US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken is visiting the Middle East to promote peace. He wants to ensure that Palestinians can rebuild their lives without Hamas's influence. The war started last October when Israel attacked Hamas in Gaza after a deadly attack on southern Israel. Since then, over 42, 000 people have died, and much of Gaza has been destroyed. The UN report finds that poverty has skyrocketed, with about 74. 3% of Palestinians living below the poverty line. This includes 2. 6 million people who were pushed into poverty in 2024. Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas has accused Israel of nearly destroying Gaza, claiming it's become "unfit for life. " A recent UN inquiry added that Israel's policies might constitute war crimes. Israel has strongly rejected these claims.