op-ed: Gaza: no economic recovery without security and stability

Security and political stability is one of the most important foundations for economic development. Without security, there is no development, and without development, there is no strong system with sound foundations.

The political stability of any country is considered the fertile ground and the basis for every process of development or progress in all fields, political, economic, social, cultural... and others, in addition to achieving security.

And when we talk about the Gaza Strip, the small coastal enclave on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea, and what it includes of important geographic terrain and the life of about two million Palestinian citizens, most of whom live below the poverty line because of the complex political and security conditions that surround this besieged enclave from all sides, a reading of what the situation was like before 17 years ago and the slight improvement in the situation today in the political and security situation after a series of wars and destruction puts us before a new turning point and a serious question: Does this security and political stability, even if it is temporary, affect economic growth and prosperity in the region?

It is true that stability and calm contribute to improving and raising the pace of work and providing the appropriate atmosphere to achieve progress and growth in all fields, the most important of which is the field of industrial development, because we are talking about a poor geographical area that needs, more than ever before, political and security stability, which will inevitably affect the growth, prosperity and development of the industry. and the economy, to benefit most of the population of the Strip. However, the calm in the Gaza Strip remains temporary, because it is the product of a complex political and security conflict. At any moment, the situation may turn around and the atmosphere of war and attack will prevail, causing the destruction of what is being built during the years of calm. Hence, it can be said clearly that stability on all fronts and areas contributes greatly to citizens welfare and gives them a good time to work and develop and improve the situation of the economy. But this is conditional on permanent stability and continuous calm, and this is what cannot be achieved unless the political equations in the region change, and the Gaza Strip, according to international agreements and UN sponsorship, obtains its independence and complete freedom. At that time, it can be said that the economic recovery will show its features in a large and clear way, given the lack of fear of returning to the square of confrontation and conflict..

Is this possible in the current perspective?

We affirm beyond any doubt that the external and internal developments in the Gaza Strip alike cannot achieve this intention in the short term due to the great complications related to the blockade, Israeli policies, the Palestinian division, the nature of the rule by Hamas and other social obstacles. And therefore, what is the alternative to ensure the continuation of the current temporary stability?

The answer lies in the mentality and awareness of the resistance factions, which in recent months have been adopting a new diplomatic method in which there is a spirit of resistance and pride, but at the same time they think consciously and rationally about the surrounding conditions in the Strip and the possibility of turning them overnight into tragic ones. Hence, this thinking that focuses on the security of citizens, their safety and sparing them the danger and hell of Israeli attacks missed a lot of opportunity for Israel to achieve its goals to impose more anxiety, hunger and calamities in the Strip on the one hand, and contributed on the other hand to bring security and calm, even temporarily, to the citizens of the Strip.

Exploiting this situation and moving away from the language of threats, intimidation and wars at the present time contributes to the creation of a social and economic reality that helps to find a ground upon which to build on to create a productive economic climate that employs financial and human resources, which has a direct economic impact by starting economic growth and employing more people towards a future that fulfills the desires of the present poor generation and protects the interests of future generations.

This ground, which is based on political and security stability, has become a major requirement for the success of the economic development process in the Gaza Strip, as it is considered the mainstay for improving human development indicators through the availability of the possibility of enhancing spending in the fields of education, health, and addressing poverty, and this is linked to development projects offered by donor countries.

When security and safety factors are available, businessmen and project owners are keen to launch their projects and businesses in areas where safety and security conditions are available, in order to ensure their success. Hence, it can be said that development projects in the world of the economy have been presented, until this moment, by businessmen and big companies timidly, for fear of not succeeding, given that the talk here is about medium- and long-term five-year and ten-year projects and plans. Thus, without ensuring the availability of calm, security and safety factors for a long period of time, for fear of new confrontations in the Strip, which greatly limits the chances of building and completing real development projects in the Gaza Strip. Accordingly, the economic situation remains hostage to the political and security conditions in the region. Hence, we say that Gaza needs a long-term truce, through which the international community concerned will ensure the establishment of security and calm in the Strip, and that the calm will continue for as long as possible so that the Strip enjoys an important and decisive factor to move the wheel of the economy....

If security and political stability is considered a necessity of human rights that also prohibits attacks and violations, then here, from our point of view, is a duty placed on the shoulders of the Palestinian factions, in order to restore calm away from division, and a vital demand to lift the unjust Israeli blockade and grant the Gaza Strip its right to practice its calm and stable life in order to succeed in building economic and development projects in all fields .

Most countries of the world possess the elements of development such as natural and human resources, just like the Gaza Strip overlooking the sea, but the loss of political and security stability, the conflict of parties and factions, sometimes disharmony between the government and the citizen, the monopoly of power and governance, the continuation of division, the blockade and other factors prevent the building of a stable entity in the Gaza Strip that is  needed more than ever before. This entity is based on calm, political and security stability, to achieve the recovery it deserves after a long time of siege, wars, destruction and suffering.