The International Labour Organisation (ILO) has launched a $20 million appeal to respond to the critical needs of hundreds of thousands of Palestinian workers and employers affected by the ongoing Israeli bombardment in Gaza.

It said the funding appeal will be used to implement a three-phase programme to provide immediate relief and support longer-term job and business recovery, as well as social protection.

The UN agency estimates at least 61 per cent of the labour market in Gaza has been wiped out; equivalent to 182,000 jobs. The conflict is also having spillover effects in the West Bank, where nearly 24pc of employment has also been lost, equivalent to 208,000 jobs. Put together, this translates to $16 million in daily labour income that has been lost.