Trump says ceasefire extension unlikely; JD Vance to lead US delegaton for Pakistan talks; Israel-Lebanon talks to be held in Washington
As the conflict between the US-Israel and Iran occupies the world’s attention, a new report has found that years of war in Gaza that has caused near-total destruction has set back human development there by 77 years.
The United Nations says relief and reconstruction efforts in Gaza will cost $23.6 billion in the first 18 months alone, just to restore basic services, rebuild critical infrastructure and support economic recovery.
Report of the UN and the European UnionWith data from the World Bank, damage to physical infrastructure since the start of the war following Hamas’ attacks on southern Israel on October 7, 2023 and Israel’s bombardment of Gaza is estimated at $35.2 billion, and economic and social losses at approximately $22.7 billion.
It is stated that Gaza’s economy has shrunk by 84 percent, more than 371,000 houses in Gaza have been destroyed, more than half of the hospitals in Gaza are “non-functional” and almost all schools have been destroyed or damaged.
Gaza health officials affiliated with Hamas say 777 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli attacks since October, when a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas began, bringing the total death toll since the start of the war to more than 72,000.
AP, Bloomberg
