Occupied Palestinian Territory

Protection Issues

Across the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT), the protection crisis is driven by persistent violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law, the lack of accountability, shrinking civic and humanitarian space, and the continued denial of Palestinians' rights. These factors have substantially increased protection risks and humanitarian needs while undermining the capacity of Palestinians to access protection, essential services, and durable solutions. Physical, administrative and legal measures implemented by Israel across the OPT, including movement restrictions, access controls, permit regimes, and limitations on humanitarian operations, continue to restrict freedom of movement, impede humanitarian access, and constrain the ability of protection actors to deliver assistance.

In Gaza, the protection environment has deteriorated dramatically following the escalation that began in October 2023. Widespread civilian casualties, repeated displacement, destruction of homes and civilian infrastructure, severe restrictions on humanitarian access, and the collapse of essential services have generated unprecedented protection needs. Civilians face acute risks linked to displacement, family separation, explosive ordnance contamination, gender-based violence, child protection concerns, psychosocial distress, and barriers to accessing basic services. Humanitarian actors continue to face significant operational constraints, limiting the scale and predictability of protection responses.

In the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, the protection environment has significantly worsened amid intensified Israeli militarized operations, excessive use of force, rising settler violence, demolitions, and movement restrictions. Palestinians face heightened risks of death, injury, displacement, loss of property, restrictions on freedom of movement, arrest and detention, torture, and reducing access to essential services. The coercive environment generated by policies, practices and administrative measures implemented by Israel and compounded by continued settlement expansion, has increased the risk of forcible transfer, particularly for Palestinian communities in Area C, East Jerusalem and Bedouin communities. Recurrent militarized operations, attacks on communities and infrastructure, and restrictions on access to land and basic services have further increased reliance on harmful coping strategies. Humanitarian and protection actors also face growing administrative burdens that hinder the delivery of assistance and protection response.