Minister: Palestine will need 15 years to return to normal life

Palestine will require 15 years to return to normal life following the end of the ongoing war, according to the Palestinian Minister of National Economy, Mohammad Alamour.

Speaking at a meeting of the Arab League's Council for Economic and Social Affairs in Baghdad, held ahead of the 34th Arab Summit, Alamour expressed his concerns over the prolonged recovery period needed for the war-torn region, Caliber.Az reports per Iraqi media.

"After the end of the war with Israel, we will need 15 years to return to normal life," Alamour stated. "Despite the difficult situation, Palestinians are showing remarkable resilience."

Note that, the Palestinian Ministry of Health in Gaza has reported that the death toll from Israeli airstrikes since October 7, 2023, has reached 52,862. Over the past 24 hours, 33 more people were killed, and 94 injured. The total number of casualties since the conflict began now exceeds 119,648, with many Palestinians still trapped under rubble. 

Following the expiration of a ceasefire on March 18, Israeli forces resumed heavy bombardments, resulting in 2,749 additional deaths, predominantly among the elderly, women, and children, and 7,607 injuries.

Key infrastructure, such as hospitals, schools, water facilities, and residential buildings, has been heavily damaged or destroyed. The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that medical supplies are critically low, and health facilities are overwhelmed.

Gaza is at risk of imminent famine unless Israel lifts its blockade and halts military operations, food security experts warned on May 12. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) reported that nearly 500,000 Palestinians face starvation, with a further 1 million experiencing extreme food insecurity.

The IPC said there is a "high risk" of famine if conditions do not improve. Israel has restricted entry of food, medicine, and other essentials into Gaza for the past 10 weeks amid ongoing military operations. The territory’s 2.3 million residents remain heavily dependent on external aid, much of which has been disrupted.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry dismissed the IPC's assessment, arguing previous predictions were inaccurate and that the group underestimated aid deliveries during an earlier ceasefire.

By Aghakazim Guliyev