A Palestinian passes by a closed bank in the southern Gaza Strip city of Rafah, during a commercial strike in protest against the siege on Gaza and the economic situation, on Jan. 22, 2018. (Xinhua/Khaled Omar)

GAZA, Jan. 22 (Xinhua) -- The owners of commercial establishments in the Gaza Strip, together with local banks, started on Monday a general strike to protest worsening living conditions amid the ongoing blockade.

This urgent appeal comes as a last resort, Head of Gaza's trade Chamber Waleed al-Husari said in an earlier statement, adding that the local economy has reached an unprecedented level of decline.

"The unemployment rate is at 46 percent, the rates of poverty have exceeded 65 percent, and the rate of food insecurity for households in the Gaza Strip has reached 50 percent," he said.

The statement pointed out that the private sector in Gaza has been subjected to a massive siege since 2007, collective punishment and three devastating wars, the last of which took place in 2014.

He called for the cessation of the Israeli policies and measures against merchants and businessmen in Gaza, and to ensure the unconditional entry of building materials for the reconstruction sector.