Palestine in April 2026: the most important developments in economy
In April 2026, the economic news linked to Palestine centred on the cost of rebuilding Gaza. On April 20, the UN and the EU said that more than $71 billion would be needed over the next decade, and officials put reconstruction costs at more than $70 billion. The EU said it was exploring a partnership with Israel on the rebuilding effort. Earlier, on April 10, sources said the Board of Peace had received only a tiny fraction of the $17 billion pledged for Gaza.
The Strait of Hormuz shaped the wider economic picture. On April 7 the UN Security Council voted on an eased plan to reopen the waterway, and the US said it expected fuel prices to keep rising after a reopening. Shipping companies stayed cautious as a truce tested the passage, and Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called for reopening without fees. On April 17 oil prices fell more than 11% after Iran opened the strait. Goldman Sachs later predicted a boost in Gulf oil output. Syria, Iraq and Kuwait reopened their airspace in April.
Energy policy also divided Europe. The EU's ban on Russian gas imports faced calls for suspension, including from the head of the Italian company Eni, and Italy's deputy prime minister called for a return to Russian gas purchases. Slovakia announced plans to sue the EU over the ban, and on April 24 reports said the EU was set to impose a new ban on Russian gas. Italy supported restrictions on imports from West Bank settlements, and critics of South Africa pointed to its growing coal exports to Israel while it pursues a court case over Gaza.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
Click a day in the chart above for that day's brief.