News Analysis: Economy suffocation hampers Gaza to stand up from war ruins

The situation in the Gaza Strip may blow up to uncalculated consequences due to the growing economical suffocation imposed on the enclave after the Israeli military offensive last summer, according to analysts.

Some 5,000 economical establishments were destroyed during the offensive, 500 of these establishments were completely destroyed during the 50-day large-scale Israeli military air and ground offensive, which also left 2,200 people killed, 11,000 people wounded and large destruction in housing.

Last October, Arab and International donors convened in Cairo and pledged 5.4 billion U.S. dollars for the process of reconstruction in the Gaza Strip.

However, Palestinian unity government's officials complained that the Palestinians didn't receive more than 2 percent of the pledged donations.

The officials as well as the UN said that there are tens of thousands of houses were either partially or completely destroyed. Postponing the process increased despair as well as rates of poverty and unemployment.

Maher Tabba', the official in Gaza Chamber of Commerce told Xinhua that the situation of the local economy in Gaza "is in clinical death and it is in its worst situation for so many decades. Economy in Gaza faces unprecedented depression and an almost stop of all commercial activities."

"The ongoing Israeli siege, the closure of crossing points and the delay in the process of reconstruction, including the construction of the economical establishments such as factories and companies are the main reason for this economical depression," said Tabaa'.

Unemployment rates in the Gaza Strip, which has a population of 1.8 million, hit 65 percent, while the percentage of missing security nutrition hit 60 percent, according to Tabaa'.

Israel still refuses to pay the tax revenue dues, which has increased the economical crisis in the Gaza Strip, because the PNA has become unable to pay full salaries to tens of thousands of employees.

Hamas accused the unity government of ignoring its employees and refusing to pay them their monthly salaries regularly, while the unity government complains that Hamas is disabling it to take control in Gaza and carry out its mission properly.

The lack of salaries paying caused a crisis in the power of financial liquidity and the power of purchase in the Gaza Strip amid growth in the rates of poverty and unemployment which were basically a result of eight years of Israeli blockade imposed on the enclave after Hamas controlled Gaza in 2007.

Faddel Abu Hein, director of the center for running crisis in Gaza told Xinhua that the mood of the Gaza Strip's populations "has become too bad, temper and frustrated, while the social and economical situations are deteriorating.

"The current suffocation of Gaza economy, the growing rates of poverty and unemployment has created a fertile soil for violence and unstable behavior of the populations," said Abu Hein.

Last week, head of the UN operations in the Gaza Strip Robert Turner warned of a renewal of conflict with Israel soon if the process of reconstruction is kept delayed.

He told a news conference in Gaza that Gaza residents are angry and depressed, and they are very much concerned of that.

Mustafa al-Sawaf, a Gaza-based political analyst told Xinhua that tightening the Israeli blockade and the deterioration of economy "feeds the idea of violent explosion in the Gaza Strip due to a severe deterioration in both economical and political situations." Endit