A/HRC/31/44 way of comparison, imports and exports took on average 10 days for Israeli traders. 64 Such restrictions have a severe impact on the competitiveness of Palestinian firms, thus limiting employment in the Palestinian private sector. 65. Although still subject to severe restrictions, the situation in Gaza has improved. Since November 2014, Israel has begun allowing a limited quantity of goods to be sold to the West Bank and Israel, including agricultural produce, textiles, iron works and furniture.65 This easing has allowed the entry of 908 truckloads during the first 10 months of 2015 compared to 228 in 2014.66 However, the current rates remain at around 15 per cent of pre-blockade levels.67 Moreover, restrictions on imports to Gaza of items classified as “dual-use” have weakened Palestinian productive sectors, especially in the metal,68 engineering, agriculture, food and pharmaceutical industries. 69 In April 2015, wooden boards thicker than 5 cm and wider than 20-25 cm were added to the dual-use list, and their import to Gaza was restricted.70 On 3 August 2015, wooden boards thicker than 1 cm were included.71 These new restrictions on wood imports have affected Gazan furniture factories and businesses, which have been forced to cut the number of staff and working hours.72 Palestinian workers in Israel and in settlements 66. Palestinian workers from the Occupied Palestinian Territory have long sought work opportunities inside Israel. Before 1993, some 115,000 Palestinians — one third of the workforce — worked in Israel, and unemployment was at 5 per cent.73 Restrictions on trade and the movement of people have had a long-lasting, damaging effect on the Palestinian economy, resulting in high unemployment and aid dependency. While unemployment in the reporting period saw a slight decline compared to 2014, one quarter of the Palestinian labour force remains unemployed. In Gaza, the unemployment rate was 42 per cent. 74 High unemployment rates and economic stagnation affect the standard of living. Poverty in the Occupied Palestinian Territory during 2014 reached 25 per cent, with rates in Gaza at 39 per cent.75 This situation has increased dependency on work in Israel, despite restrictions. 67. By September 2015, 57,450 Palestinians from the West Bank held permits to work in Israel, which, according to COGAT, is the highest number since the permit system was 64 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 14 World Bank, West Bank and Gaza Investment Climate Assessment: Fragmentation and Uncertainty, 2014, pp. 32-39. Gisha, “For the first time since the closure: a truckload of cucumbers left” (6 November 2014); and “Israel will allow marketing of ironworks, furniture and textile from Gaza in Israel”, 21 September 2015.Error! Hyperlink reference not valid. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, online Gaza crossings database. World Bank, Economic Monitoring Report to the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee, 30 September 2015. According to the Palestinian Federation of Industries in Gaza, 90 per cent of metal materials are listed as dual-use and banned from entry into Israel, affecting 1,200 factories. See also Al-Monitor, “Gazans scavenge for food, recyclables”, 13 May 2015. United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, The 2013 World Trade Organization Agreement on Trade Facilitation: Israel’s Obligations towards Palestinian Trade, 2015, pp. 7-10. Gisha, “COGAT decision to restrict entrance of wood to Gaza” (13 April 2015). Israel, Ministry of Defense, instructions regarding the ban on bringing items into the Gaza Strip, 3 August 2015. See also http://gaza.ochaopt.org/2015/09/import-restrictions-impede-delivery-ofservices-and-humanitarian-assistance. Gisha, “Marketing of furniture from Gaza in Israel permitted–, wood to make the furniture is not”, 2 November 2015. See www.btselem.org/workers. World Bank, Economic Monitoring Report, p. 4. Ibid.