The Independent Commission for Human Rights - ICHR 25 has caused a severe crisis for water-dependent industrial enterprises, including food supplies, stone processing, and construction material factories. Cattle farms have also been affected, particularly in Hebron, which is known primarily for cattle breeding in Palestine. 1.1.2.3 Siege and aggression on the Gaza Strip Siege on the Gaza Strip has been tightened further, barring the entry of commodities in general, and raw materials in particular. This has caused heavy losses to various economy sectors, particularly industry. As a result, the unemployment rate has been pushed up to some 50.2 percent, including 68.6 percent among females and 44.6 percent among males. The highest unemployment rate was among young people between 20 and 24 years of age, reaching 75.2 percent. In view of rising poverty, more than half of the Gaza population are considered to be living below the poverty line.15 The World Bank estimated direct losses caused by the latest Israeli aggression against the Gaza Strip at some US$ 570 million. The social sector incurred the greatest losses (US$ 140-180 million). Tightened blockade on Gaza has prevented the entry of goods and, in particular, materials for production. Disruption of the flow of goods between the West Bank and Gaza Strip has resulted in exorbitant losses to economy sectors, especially industry, also leading to higher unemployment and poverty rates. 1.1.2.4 Continued obstruction of the movement of goods (imports, exports, raw materials, and marketing products) Obstacles created by the Israeli government have caused the cost of Palestinian goods to jumpstart. Not exceeding 50 kilometres, transportation costs from the Ashdod port to the Al-Muntar crossing point has increased the shipping cost from China by ten times. The Israeli occupying authorities also obstructed scanner operations on the Jordanian border, adversely impacting the movement of goods between Palestine and other countries. Additionally, freight costs at Israeli airports are excessively high. According to Palestinian exporters, compared to US$ 2 charged on Israeli products, shipping a kilogram of Palestinian products costs as much as US$ 3. Also, Palestinian goods are abandoned and left for extended hours on the airport runways, resulting in the damage and low quality of these goods. Palestinian manufacturers and merchants are only allowed to transport products from Israeli ports or traders via designated crossing points and using Israeli trucks. Consequently, Palestinians are forced to load and unload cargo more than once, increasing the cost and damaging goods. Palestinian customs brokers are not permitted to provide direct follow up on shipments neither inside Israeli seaports nor inside airports. Under the pretext of, inter alia, security inspection, delayed entry of imported goods via ports has caused losses to Palestinian manufacturers and importers, who have to pay ground handling charges. On all crossing points, Palestinian merchants are forced to sign a pledge, stating that their commodities will only be sold in the PA-controlled territory. On the other hand, as they are not required to sign such a pledge, Israeli merchants have more room to market their products. 15 Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS), Results of the Labour Force Survey: Third Quarter, July-September 2021 Round. Ramallah, 2021. Twenty Seventh Annual Report 2021