INFO
What's happening in the West Bank?
As violence in the West Bank continues, the humanitarian crisis becomes increasingly dire.
What is the West Bank?
The West Bank is one of the two primary territories that make up the modern State of Palestine and is considered by Palestinians to be part of their homeland. While larger than its counterpart, the Gaza Strip, the West Bank has a significantly lower population density.
Israel has occupied the West Bank in varying degrees since the 1967 Arab-Israeli war. Since then, Israeli settlements—residential communities established for Israeli citizens only—have been built on land claimed by Palestinians, fueling ongoing tension and violence. As Israel continues to expand these settlements, Palestinians become further displaced.
What is the violence in the West Bank about?
As settler violence has intensified just in the last few months, tensions between Israelis and Palestinians in the West Bank grows. In late June 2025, three Palestinians were shot and killed by the Israeli military during a settler attack on their village.
These attacks have displaced thousands of Palestinians and have destroyed countless homes and infrastructure. Additionally, the 2025 Israel-Iran war subjected the West Bank to falling missile debris, putting civilians and infrastructure at further risk. The ceasefire brokered on June 24th, 2025, offers some respite from this danger.
Are people in the West Bank Israeli citizens?
Most of the West Bank’s population are Palestinians who do not have Israeli citizenship, rather they are considered “stateless” living under military occupation and carry documentation issued by the West Bank-based Palestinian Authority (PA). There are about 3.25 million people living in the West Bank, and around 400,000 are Israeli citizens living in settlements.
Israelis living or traveling in the West Bank have full rights under Israeli law, while Palestinians must gain permits to travel to certain destinations within the West Bank or to enter Israel or East Jerusalem.
Is there a humanitarian crisis in the West Bank?
The increase in settler violence, forced displacement, and movement restrictions have made life in the West Bank difficult for Palestinians. While not as overcrowded as Gaza, the West Bank still struggles with poverty, food insecurity, and lack of access to healthcare and education. Much of this is the result of Israeli restrictions and policies that hinder the local Palestinian economy.
As of January 2025, restrictions on the West Bank resulted in the reduced functionality of necessary healthcare facilities, like clinics and hospitals.
Can humanitarian aid currently get into the West Bank?
While aid can enter the West Bank, the Israeli government has tight restrictions, and often denies permits to international NGOs looking to provide help. As of April 2025, 95% of NGOs reported increased movement restrictions in the West Bank, with 15 reporting harassment or attacks while delivering aid.
These obstacles regularly limit and even turn away necessary aid, like ambulance services, food and water, or medical donations.