Informal Economy Workers in the West Bank: Struggle and Resilience Amidst the Ongoing Aggression

The recent escalation of military aggression in Palestine since October 2023 has profoundly affected the health, lives, and livelihoods of all population segments, including the labor force. This war and its consequent economic instability have led to higher unemployment rates and a further shift in employment towards informality. Workers in the informal sector, the dominant form of employment, are especially vulnerable and disproportionately affected due to the inherent precarity of their jobs. This study investigated the impact of the escalated aggression in the West Bank on informal sector workers, focusing on their financial stability and health. It also explored the strategies they used to sustain their livelihoods. Using a qualitative approach, 21 in-depth interviews were conducted during 2024 with workers in various sectors and localities. The challenges informal sector workers face intensified, severely affecting their living, working, and health conditions, to which they responded with various continuity strategies that demonstrated Sumud (steadfastness). The findings show that enhancing the economic stability and improving the living conditions and health of informal workers in the West Bank requires not only protective labor national policies but also broader efforts toward political stability and economic sovereignty in Palestine.