Gaza businessmen to strike against deteriorating economy

GAZA, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) -- Palestinian businessmen in the Gaza Strip announced Monday to hold a general strike next week to protest over deteriorating economy.

"The economic indicators in the strip have reached an unprecedentedly low level," said Head of Gaza's Trade Chamber Waleed al-Husari during a press conference.

Unemployment rate in Gaza reached 46 percent out of the two million population, while poverty rate rose to 65 percent, Husari added.

He pointed out that food insecurity rate was 50 percent, while local markets suffer from a lack of purchasing power in all economic sectors.

Husri called for the Palestinian reconciliation and putting an end to the internal division to avoid further economic collapse.

He also called for the cease of the Israeli policies and measures against merchants and businessmen in Gaza, and to ensure the unconditional entry of building materials for the reconstruction sector.

In the meantime, Israel announced the closure of Kerem Shalom, the only commercial crossing in Gaza bordering with Israel for the second day, following the attack on a tunnel that passed below the crossing, according to Israeli sources.

The Palestinian committee for the entry of the goods into Gaza said in a brief statement that the entry of food and commercial trucks and the pumping fuel through the crossing was completely halted by the Israeli authorities.

Israeli said on Sunday it had destroyed a cross-border tunnel for attack that ran from Gaza into Israel and Egypt dug by Hamas, the Islamist group that controls the coastal enclave.

The committee said that the Israeli authorities had not set any date for the resumption of the crossing.

Israel has adopted a single commercial crossing with Gaza since 2012 after four crossings were closed and Erez crossing was open for humanitarian personnel into Israel.

Kerem Shalom is one of the Gaza Strip's few lifelines to the outside world and the principal entry point for humanitarian aid. Enditem