Statement from the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics
On the occasion of August 12 World Youth Day, the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics made an important statement regarding the martyrs in Gaza and the demographic changes in the Palestinian territories. This statement revealed the effects of the war and occupation on the young population in the region.
According to the statement, the number of martyrs in the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023 is approaching 40 thousand. This figure corresponds to approximately 1.8% of the population of Gaza. 24% of the martyrs are young people. During this period, 34 people lost their lives due to hunger in Gaza, and approximately 3,500 children are in danger of death due to malnutrition. In addition, more than 95 thousand people were injured in Israeli attacks, and 70% of the injured were women and children.
In the Gaza Strip, 10,000 people are still missing or buried under the rubble. Before the attacks, the population of the Gaza Strip was 2,200,000, and 2 million people were forcibly displaced by Israeli attacks.
The Situation in the West Bank
The statement also stated that there is a serious situation in the occupied West Bank. Of the approximately 5.6 million Palestinians living in the Palestinian territories before October 7, 2023, 1.2 million (22%) are young people. Since October 7, 620 people, mostly young people and children, have been martyred in the occupied West Bank as a result of attacks by Israeli forces and Israelis who usurped their lands. 75% of those martyred were under the age of 30.
Since October 7, a total of 653 higher education students and 105 higher education institution staff have been martyred in Israeli attacks, 619 in the Gaza Strip and 34 in the West Bank. In addition, 88,000 students in Gaza have been deprived of their right to higher education.
Unemployment Rates
The unemployment rate in the occupied West Bank reached 56% in 2023, while it rose to 75% in Gaza in the fourth quarter of the same year. The unemployment rate, especially among young people with diplomas in the Gaza Strip, has reached a striking level of 91%.
