The study focuses on Lebanon, Egypt, and Jordan

According to a UN study, the economic costs of the war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza for the Arab neighbors of Lebanon, Egypt and Jordan could rise to at least $10 billion this year and push more than 230,000 people below the poverty line.

The military conflict comes at a time when the three Arab countries are struggling with fiscal pressures, slow growth and steep unemployment. This situation is holding back necessary investment while making these economies vulnerable to fluctuations in consumption and trade. At the same time, Lebanon is experiencing a deep economic crisis.

A study conducted by the United Nations Development Program shows that the cost of the conflict for the three states could reach $10.3 billion, or 2.3% of GDP. This loss could double if the conflict continues for another six months.

Abdullah al-Dardari, UN Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the UNDP Regional Bureau for the Arab States, who led the study, emphasized the great impact of the crisis. He defined it as a "bomb" in an unstable regional situation, worsening the mood due to fear of possible developments.

The conflict escalated after Israel launched an operation to destroy Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip. This led to serious destruction, resulting in the deaths of thousands of people and massive displacement of the population. Al-Dardari noted the unprecedented scale of the destruction, pointing out that the losses in the housing stock amounted to 45-50% in one month of hostilities, which is unsurpassed in history since the Second World War.

Experts have already begun to consider scenarios for the post-war reconstruction of Gaza, given the extent of the destruction and the scale of the humanitarian crisis.