Economic expert tells 'Filastin': Occupation holidays cost the West Bank $150 million in two weeks

An economic expert estimates that Israeli closures during the Jewish holiday period cost the West Bank $150 million in two weeks. He notes that the Palestinian economy has contracted by 28% since 2023, with GDP dropping from $20 billion to less than $13 billion.

Economic expert Dr. Nasr Abdel Karim estimates that Israeli closures during the Jewish holiday period, spanning two weeks, have cost the West Bank direct and indirect losses of approximately $150 million, based on World Bank estimates. He explains that the West Bank is burdened by about 1,000 checkpoints and military gates that fragment it and hinder economic movement. He points out that the Palestinian economy has contracted by 28% since the outbreak of war in 2023, with GDP declining from $20 billion to less than $13 billion. The most affected sectors include agriculture, industry, trade, transport, and tourism, which have experienced near-total collapse. The article relies on an interview with a single expert, without presenting Israeli or international perspectives on the security measures.