War Sends Gaza Back to the 1950s: UNRWA Chief

According to the UN agency for Palestine refugees, the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas has regressed the Gaza Strip to conditions reminiscent of the early 1950s. Philippe Lazzarini, Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), stated on social media that the conflict has devastated the Palestinian economy, leaving nearly the entire population in poverty and causing health and education indicators to decline by 70 years.

“The longer this continues, the more challenging it becomes to restore a learning environment for hundreds of thousands of children,” he remarked, referencing a recent UN study.

The conflict escalated following a Hamas attack on the Israeli border on October 7, 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 Israeli deaths and around 250 hostages taken. In response, Israel has launched extensive military operations in Gaza.

As of Wednesday, the death toll among Palestinians from the ongoing Israeli assaults has reached 42,792, according to health authorities in Gaza.