Israel’s unemployment rate rises sharply amid Gaza war

By Anadolu staff

JERUSALEM (AA) – The number of unemployed people in Israel rapidly climbed in October amid the ongoing Israeli war in the Gaza Strip.

Figures released by the Israel Employment Service showed that 70,000 people registered themselves as unemployed in October – up by 57,500 people compared to a month earlier, Hebrew-language newspaper Globes reported.

“Of these, 42,400 are workers on unpaid leave, 60.3% of the new registrants,” the daily said.

The Israel Employment Service counts the number of job-seekers who register with it each month.

Israel has launched relentless air and ground attacks on the Gaza Strip since a cross-border attack by the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7.

At least 10,328 Palestinians, including 4,237 children and 2,719 women, have been killed since then. The Israeli death toll, meanwhile, is nearly 1,600, according to official figures.

Besides the large number of casualties and massive displacements, basic supplies are running low for Gaza’s 2.3 million residents due to the Israeli siege.