Palestine
Palestine exhibits low-range performance in two categories (Representation and Rule of Law) of the Global State of Democracy framework and mid-range performance in Rights and Participation. It is among the bottom 25 per cent of countries in a majority of factors of the framework. Over the last five years, Palestine has suffered notable declines in multiple factors of Rights and Rule of Law.
Palestine is comprised of two geographically separated areas of land, the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The Palestinian territories have been under Israeli military rule since 1967 and the state does not have effective control over the territories it claims. Palestinian statehood is only recognized by 139 UN Member States. The ongoing occupation effects every aspect of Palestinian life and both Israel and Palestinian leaders are continuously condemned for grave violations of international human rights and humanitarian law. A long-halted peace process with Israel, internal discord between Palestinian factions and the current war between Hamas and Israel have undermined the development of democratic institutions and have prevented Palestine’s ability to exercise self-determination. The country hosts a highly aid-dependent, captive economy with high poverty and unemployment rates.
Palestine has never existed as a fully realized nation-state, as foreign powers (Ottoman, British, Jordanian, Egyptian and Israeli) have for centuries been the dominant sovereign authority. In 1948, though the Arabs rejected UN General Assembly Resolution 181, which created the Israeli state on 77 per cent of Palestinian land, Palestinians faced mass expulsion and ethnic cleansing (Nakba). Several Arab-Israeli wars since then have resulted in millions of Palestinian refugees throughout the region.
Today, the quest for independent statehood and resolution of historical injustices absorbs much of Palestinian politics, and acts of violence continue to take place in connection to it. Yet, the state on offer to Palestine has been in rapid decline following the conflict and the expansion of Israel’s colonial settlement project. Beyond such physical fragmentation, internal strife, prominently between the two most dominant Palestinian political factions - the secular organization Fatah in the West Bank and the Islamic movement Hamas in Gaza - has further deeply divided the country. Coordination around domestic and Israeli occupation related issues, in turn, have been marred by the increasingly authoritarian character of the Palestinian National Authority – the Palestinian domestic body with authority to exercise partial control. The most prominent issues include corruption, the indefinite postponement of presidential elections, an increasingly strong executive, and a vast security apparatus that can effectively repress its critics. Such currents have culminated in the political stagnation that has characterized the country since the 1994 Oslo Peace Accords. Today, a majority (60 per cent) of Palestinian areas remain under full Israeli control and are particularly subject to constant military presence, arrest and detention, frequent acts of violence, restrictions on movement, and the destruction of property.
Although Palestine has joined international treaties and conventions against gender discrimination and for gender equality, it ranks low in gender equality due to traditional patriarchal social and cultural norms, further exacerbated by the Israeli occupation. Women’s participation in the labour market and in politics are low, with care work occupying their primary responsibility and leaving men as the primary income earner. As the current war with Israel continues, men are unable to perform traditional roles.
Going forward, any democratic progress will depend on the cessation of the current war with Israel, which has been ongoing since October 2023. In a post-conflict context, it will be important to watch developments related to the resumption of national elections, any openings related to sovereign statehood, and the design of the mechanisms to govern such a state. Barring statehood, the shape of post-war reconstruction will determine the degree to which democratization can progress.
Monthly Event Reports
February 2024 | Palestinian Authority’s government dissolved
In late February, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh and his cabinet tendered their resignations to President Mahmoud Abbas, indicating a shift towards the formation of a new technocratic government in the Palestinian territories amidst rising tensions in the West Bank and Gaza. This step was taken against a backdrop of political infighting, economic challenges, and strained relations with neighbouring states and international actors. The resignation could lead to potential restructuring or reforms within the Palestinian Authority and could also impact peace prospects in the region. The new government is expected to focus on the reconstruction of Gaza following the conflict and to operate independently of political factions, including Hamas. The potential formation of this government also raises questions about future elections, given the long-standing division between Hamas in Gaza and Fatah (the political party of President Abbas) in the West Bank, and the pressing need to address immediate crises before considering new electoral processes.
January 2024 | Humanitarian crisis escalates as war reaches 100-day mark
Conditions in Gaza continue to deteriorate, with Israeli attacks leading to the displacement of 85 per cent of Gaza's population. Over 1.4 million people are living in overcrowded and unsanitary humanitarian shelters. As of 30 January, the death toll exceeded 27,000, including over 10,000 children, while 218 Israeli soldiers have been killed. Healthcare facilities are grappling with both the high number of injuries from the conflict and the dire impact of the Israeli blockade, which has restricted entry of essential supplies, including food, water, fuel, and medicines. Hospitals are reportedly on the brink of collapse. Several countries’ suspension of funding to UNRWA following allegations of staff involvement in Hamas’ attacks has heightened the threat of famine. Moreover, there has been an unprecedented communications blackout, with several rights organizations expressing concern over the use of network blackouts as weapons. The Committee to Protect Journalists has also called for attention to the ‘devastating high’ in journalist killings in 2023.
October 2023 | Escalating violence and hostilities in Palestinian territories
In October 2023, the Israel-Palestine conflict intensified as war broke out in Gaza and violence intensified in the West Bank. This escalation began on 7 October, when Hamas-led groups from Gaza attacked Israel, killing as many as 1,200 Israelis and taking more than 200 hostages. Israel retaliated with a comprehensive counteroffensive, declaring war and enforcing a total siege on Gaza. The territory has been cut off from essential resources such as electricity, food, medicine, and water. This counterstrike caused substantial casualties and infrastructural damage in Gaza, including to healthcare facilities, schools, and residential areas. Although Israel claimed its primary targets were Hamas' political and military leaders, many civilian buildings and facilities were damaged or destroyed. The offensive led to the displacement of over 1.5 million Palestinians in Gaza, with about half sheltering in United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) facilities. According to the Hamas-controlled Gaza health ministry, this had resulted in over 9,000 Palestinian deaths, including more than 3,900 children, as of 4 November. This month has further marked the deadliest period for journalists covering the conflict since 1992. At least 36 journalists have been killed, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). Meanwhile, in the West Bank, violent encounters between Israeli forces, settlers, and Palestinians resulted in numerous Palestinian deaths. Starting from 7 October, Israel enforced a complete closure of the West Bank and East Jerusalem, reportedly arresting 1,500 Palestinians. Israeli airstrikes on 19 and 22 October in the West Bank led to more than a dozen fatalities. Reports also surfaced of settler violence against Palestinians, causing further displacement.
July 2023 | West Bank sees most violent Israeli raid in recent years
In the midst of escalating tensions across the West Bank, the Israeli military conducted a large-scale operation in the densely populated Jenin refugee camp between 3 and 5 July. The offensive was the most significant since the Second Intifada (2000-2005), leaving at least 12 Palestinians killed and 143 wounded. Moreover, the operation damaged the camp’s infrastructure extensively, causing power outages, Internet cuts, sewer disruptions, and a lack of access to clean water. Israeli forces bulldozed roads and imposed access restrictions, impeding ambulance services. An estimated 3,500 residents were displaced. In retaliation, militants based in Gaza launched rockets towards Tel Aviv on 5 July. Israel responded with airstrikes in Gaza. Further incidents throughout July claimed the lives of at least 27 Palestinians and one Israeli. The operation in Jenin drew international criticism, with condemnations from the United Nations and a European envoy questioning the “proportionality” of Israeli force. Israel maintains that its raids in Jenin are targeted efforts to dismantle "terrorist infrastructure". However, experts have asserted that these actions constitute war crimes under the Geneva Conventions, suggesting that legal action should be initiated to ensure those responsible are held accountable.
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