Entrepreneurship for Survival in Gaza: Informal Economic Adaptation and Post-War Recovery Prospects

This paper traces the continuing crisis's toll on the economy and on entrepreneurship before, during and after the war on Gaza, and the prospects of recovery. Published under the project «From survival to civic participation and empowerment».

Author

Pal-Think research team

Date

2026-06-08

Key points

• The informal economy has become the sole refuge of most Gazan families amid the collapse of the formal sector.
• Small entrepreneurship models have shown exceptional resilience despite the blockade and the war.
• Reducing youth unemployment requires an economic strategy that integrates the informal sector into planning.

Recommendations

• Integrate the informal economic sector into official reconstruction plans.
• Establish a guarantee fund for small enterprises in the recovery phase.
• Launch sustainable entrepreneurship training programmes targeting unemployed youth.