With the borders shut, raw materials cannot get in and finished goods cannot be exported. Factories in the Gaza Strip are folding like dominos and unemployment is soaring.
"People hate having to ask for assistance. People want work," said Sime. "They want aid in the form of job-creation programmes." Such programmes may remain a pipedream if the borders stay shut.
While basic food supplies continue to make it into Gaza, WFP said prices of some commodities were rising, while farmers and fishermen could not export their goods, creating losses in those industries as well.
In addition, Israel's Channel 10 recently reported that Palestinian importers had alleged that goods arrive spoiled, partly because of the long waiting time at the crossing.
"I am not saying the situation in Gaza is good," said Shlomo Dror, from Israel's Ministry of Defense, but he was "not convinced" the economy would irreversibly collapse.
"We are working to prevent a humanitarian crisis. But if the Palestinians have complaints, they should put pressure on Hamas."
"People hate having to ask for assistance. People want work," said Sime. "They want aid in the form of job-creation programmes." Such programmes may remain a pipedream if the borders stay shut.
While basic food supplies continue to make it into Gaza, WFP said prices of some commodities were rising, while farmers and fishermen could not export their goods, creating losses in those industries as well.
In addition, Israel's Channel 10 recently reported that Palestinian importers had alleged that goods arrive spoiled, partly because of the long waiting time at the crossing.
"I am not saying the situation in Gaza is good," said Shlomo Dror, from Israel's Ministry of Defense, but he was "not convinced" the economy would irreversibly collapse.
"We are working to prevent a humanitarian crisis. But if the Palestinians have complaints, they should put pressure on Hamas."
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