Rafah crossing: To be opened permanently from 09:00 to 17:00 except Fridays and holidays Rafah camp Deir al-Balah camp Jabaliya Bureij Maghazi Nuseirat Shati Khan Younis camp Erez Kissufim Sufa Karni Kerem Shalom Nahol Oz Airport Not in use Rafah Deir al-Balah Gaza City Khan Younis Beit Hanoun EGYPT ISRAEL GAZA STRIP 2.5 miles 4km Rafah camp Deir al-Balah camp Jabaliya Bureij Maghazi Nuseirat Shati Khan Younis camp Erez Kissufim Sufa Karni Kerem Shalom Nahol Oz Airport Not in use Rafah Deir al-Balah Gaza City Khan Younis Beit Hanoun MEDITERRANEAN SEA EGYPT ISRAEL GAZA STRIP A crippled Gaza economy Unemployment in the Gaza Strip remains among the highest in the world and real wages have slumped by an estimated 34.5% since 2007 when Israel tightened its blockade, according to a new UN report IN MINUTES News and events — visually Gaza Strip population 1,657,000 Working-age population* 862,000 Labour force 347,540 (40.3% of working age population ) Employed 190,360 (54.8% of labour force) Unemployed 157,180 (45.2%) *Age 15 years or older Age structure 53.5% 15-64 years 43.9% 0-14 years 2.6% 65 years & over Sources: Graphic News; UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA); wire services QMI AGENCY Average non- refugee daily wage (second half of 2010) $15.80 US 300,000 People earing less than $1.25 a day 70% of the population is below the poverty line Egypt opens border with Gaza Strip Egypt’s decision to open its border i n May with Gaza to ease entry restrictions for Palestinians marked a further policy shift since the overthrow of President Hosni Mubarak, whose government co-operated with Israel in enforcing the four-year blockade of the Hamas-ruled territory. Some goods that have been blocked from entering Gaza Gaza Many items are illegally smuggled into the country through underground tunnels. • One of the most densely populated places on Earth Israel controls Gaza’s Mediterra- nean coastline and airspace; Israeli drones patrol the skies; ships enforce a mari- time blockade five km from shore. In 2006, Hamas won parliamentary elections in Gaza and, the next year, drove out Fatah in a bloody four-day civil war. Hamas, which refuses to recognize Israel’s right to exist, fired thousands of rockets into Israel, killing and wounding dozens of civilians and unnerving the population. Hamas also infuriated Israelis by refusing to return a kidnapped soldier , Gilad Shalit, whom militants had abducted from an Israeli border post in 2006. In 2007, Israel imposed a full blockade. Israel’s goal is to weaken Hamas and reduce its capacity for terrorism. They hope that Palestin- ians will weary of deprivation and oust Hamas. 4 0 k m How did the blockade begin? Jan 2006: Hamas wins Palestinian Authori ty legislative election 2006: Israel imposes blockade after Israeli solider Gilad Shalit is snatched by Gaza-base militants Jun 2007: Hamas seizes control of Gaza from Fatah after wave of fighting that kills over 100 people. Israel tightens blockade of Gaza Strip Dec 2008: Israel launches full scale invasion — around 1,400 Palesti nians killed May 2010: Israeli forces seize aid convoy of six ships aiming to break through blockade, killing nine Turkish activists May 3, 2011: Unity deal between Fatah and Hamas signed May 28: Egypt opens border Blockade timeline • Most residents are Palestinian refugees from families that fled there when Israel was established, in 1948. • anything that could aid in the making of armaments or fortifications • concrete • steel • wood for construction • automobiles • computers • fruit juice • chocolate • coriander, cumin, ginger, nutmeg • newspapers • fabric for clothing • horses, goats, cattle, chickens, donkeys • fishing rods. Crossing points Refugee camps