Thousands of Gazans apply for Israeli work permitsPalestinian men gather to apply for work permits in Israel, at Jabalia refugee camp in the northern Gaza StripGAZA CITY (PALESTINIAN TERRITORIES) - Thousands of Gazans applied Wednesday for work permits for Israel, which has been reopening its gates to labourers from the Palestinian enclave following the latest war in May. "There is no work in the Gaza Strip," said Fathi Abu Nur, a 40-year-old unemployed man. "Yesterday I heard that workers are registering to get permits (for Israel)," he said. Palestinian economic analyst Omar Shaaban said Israeli work permits could help alleviate "the unemployment crisis and poverty" within the territory, ruled by the Islamist movement Hamas. According to Shaaban, Gaza's income would increase by three million dollars per day ($3 million), if Israel granted 20,000 work permits.
