In March 1998, the consumer price index was 110.62. There were 3,425 rooms with 7,419 beds. The number of guests was 61,370, and the number of persons per night was 164,577. 2,604 are classified as passenger transporters and 200 are classified as goods transporters. The findings of the study prepared in 1996 by the General Assembly on Water Information in the Gaza Strip, prove that the Israeli Occupation resulted in Israeli domination of the Jordan Valley fountains and the underground water of the Palestinian Territories.
Water resources are extremely limited and are annually renewable by rainfall.
Water resources are estimated to be around 600 million cubic meters. Studies conducted from different sources, e.g. the Ministry of Agriculture, the Palestinian Water Authority, the Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation, conclude the total number of cubic meters pumped from licensed and unlicensed wells in the Gaza Strip to be 176 million. As well, studies indicate that gradual decrease of underground water negatively impacts Salinity. The percentage of nitrates is ten times higher than the internationally specified level. The studies reveal the nitrate concentration to be more than 150 milligrams per liter in some wells in the Gaza Strip.