Palestine in May 2026: the most important developments in economy
In May 2026, economic news concerning the Palestinian territories centred on sanctions and on the state of Gaza. On 19 May the US Treasury imposed sanctions on organizers of a Gaza flotilla and on networks linked to the Muslim Brotherhood. The Trump administration accused Hamas of backing the flotilla. Earlier, on 11 May, EU foreign ministers approved sanctions on violent Israeli settlers in the West Bank after Hungary dropped its veto. The measures also cover Hamas leaders. On 22 May the Netherlands banned goods from Israeli settlements, while the UK, France, Germany and Italy warned firms about construction in the West Bank.
In Gaza, rebuilding was reported to be stalling because of rising costs and Israeli restrictions. The cost of the rebuild was put at $71 billion, with most homes and nearly all businesses destroyed. Electricians were working to restore power amid the ruins and the blockade. A separate report said merchants were making large profits from Gaza trade while farmers lost out. In the West Bank, construction began on a bypass road meant to bring one million Israelis to the area.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
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