Palestinian report: Israel destroyed 5,000 tourist facilities in Gaza

An official Palestinian report stated on Thursday that the Israeli army has destroyed about 5,000 tourist facilities in the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023.

This came according to a joint report by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics and the Ministry of Tourism, on the eve of World Tourism Day, which falls on September 27 of each year.

The report explained that estimates "indicate that the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip caused the complete or partial destruction of most tourist facilities."

He pointed out that "4,992 facilities operating in the tourism sector were destroyed, including 3,450 facilities in the restaurant and beverage business, which constitute 69.1 percent of the tourism facilities in the Gaza Strip, and 921 facilities in creative activities and arts, which constitute 18.4 percent of the facilities."

The report confirmed that "the Israeli aggression destroyed 182 facilities in the manufacture and sale of handicrafts and souvenirs, and 173 facilities in hotel activities."

He pointed out that "15,265 workers lost their jobs in the tourism sector."

Regarding the reality of tourism in the occupied West Bank, the report explained that "the number of hotel guests during the first half of 2024 witnessed a sharp decline of 84.2 percent, compared to the same period of the previous year."

According to the latest statistics published by the government media office in the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, the Israeli army has destroyed 206 archaeological sites and 36 sports facilities since October 7, in addition to 150,000 housing units, while the initial losses amounted to 33 billion dollars.

With full American support, Israel is waging a devastating war on Gaza, leaving more than 137,000 Palestinians dead and wounded, most of them children and women, and more than 10,000 missing, amid massive destruction and deadly famine.

​​​​​​​In parallel with its war on the Gaza Strip, the Israeli army expanded its operations in the West Bank, while settlers escalated their attacks, leading to the killing of 718 Palestinians and the injury of about 5,750, according to official Palestinian institutions.

Anatolia