Despair and Lost Futures: Gaza’s Young Generation Confront Economic Collapse and Destruction

The ongoing conflict and Israeli blockade have created a devastating reality for Palestinian youth, leaving thousands unemployed and with limited opportunities.

The Mediterranean coast of Gaza serves as a daily reminder of the predicament faced by young Palestinians like Mahmoud Shamiya. He, along with an estimated tens of thousands of his peers, lacks employment due to the collapse of Gaza’s economy, a direct consequence of recent military operations. Shamiya, a graduate of Al-Aqsa University with a degree in basic education, now spends his days collecting water and scavenging for fuel, a stark contrast to his initial aspirations of becoming a teacher. He describes the situation as one characterized by “aimless, jobless, and hopeless” existence, marked by a “deadly routine.” The crisis is amplified by the systematic destruction of Gaza’s educational institutions. Israel’s actions resulted in the demolition of most universities and schools within the territory, impacting approximately 2.3 million residents. This destruction, labeled as genocide by international organizations, has dramatically altered the lives of countless young people. Roughly 70 percent of Gaza’s population is under 30, navigating an economic contraction described by the United Nations as one of the fastest and most severe on record. Official statistics reveal an alarming unemployment rate of 80 percent within the Gaza Strip. The local gross domestic product (GDP) has plummeted by 87 percent over the past two years, reducing it to a mere $362 million, with a GDP per capita of just $161. This decline represents the erasure of 22 years of development, effectively isolating Gaza’s youth and denying them access to education, employment, and basic necessities. The story of Mona Al-Mashharawi exemplifies this lost potential. Having completed high school in 2023, she secured a place at the Houari Boumediene University in Algeria, with a planned departure in November 2023. However, the outbreak of the conflict in October 2023 and subsequent border closures by Israeli forces trapped her within the Strip, halting her academic progress. Now, two years later, she remains a high school graduate, lamenting the years disappearing from her life and the denial of her educational aspirations. Similarly, the closure of the Rafah Crossing, Gaza’s only external access point, has further compounded the situation, preventing individuals like Al-Mashharawi from pursuing opportunities outside the enclave.