Key facts
- Palestinian laborers are hiding in garbage trucks to attempt to enter Israel for work.
- Approximately 150,000 work permits for Palestinians were cancelled after October 7, 2023.
- The West Bank's economy has contracted significantly, leading to an estimated 30% unemployment rate.
- Many Palestinians are risking illegal entry into Israel due to a lack of employment opportunities.
- The poverty rate in the West Bank has more than doubled since before the recent conflict.
Palestinian laborers are resorting to extreme measures, such as hiding in rubbish trucks, to attempt to cross into Israel for work following the cancellation of approximately 150,000 work permits after October 7, 2023. This has exacerbated an already severe economic crisis in the West Bank, with GDP contracting by over 20 percent and unemployment soaring to an estimated 30 percent.
One laborer, identified as Majd, described the fear of being discovered by Israeli soldiers while crammed in a garbage truck, stating, “At the beginning when they stopped us, we were afraid to go to jail. Then when it took longer to get out, we were scared to die.” Before the permit cancellations, Majd had worked in Israel for six years, earning a substantial income that supported his family. However, with savings depleted, he has twice attempted to enter Israel illegally by climbing over walls.
Analysts note that the economic vulnerability of the West Bank is a long-standing issue, stemming from Israeli restrictions on agricultural and industrial production, import/export controls, and a lack of investment since the occupation began. The system of permits, introduced in 1972 and later individualized in 1991, has been used as a political lever, with permits frozen after Palestinian attacks. The Paris Protocol further formalized Israel's economic control.
The immediate aftermath of October 7 saw Israel revoke all permits and withhold clearance revenues, which constitute a significant portion of the Palestinian Authority's income. This dual blow has crippled the private sector and reduced purchasing power, leading to widespread joblessness and a doubling of the poverty rate. While Israel has restored a small number of permits for critical industries, the vast majority of Palestinians remain unable to legally work in Israel, pushing many to take increasingly dangerous risks.