Life in Israel and the Palestinian territories has undergone significant disruption since an unexpected assault on Israel by the terrorist organization Hamas on October 7. The attack resulted in over 1,000 casualties, prompting a counteroffensive by the Israeli military in Gaza that claimed thousands of lives.
This region, shared by Israelis and Palestinians, has a long history of conflict along ethnic and other lines. The complex historical events have contributed to divergent qualities of life for the inhabitants of Israel, Gaza, and the West Bank. Examining various data points can provide insight into the lives of people in this region before the ongoing conflict.
Age Demographics
Gaza has a population density comparable to major American cities, hosting over 2 million people on a roughly 140-square-mile strip. Approximately 40% of Gaza's population is 14 years old or younger, with a median age of just 18 in 2020. This makes Gaza home to one of the world's 20 youngest populations according to the CIA's World Factbook.
The West Bank also has a relatively young population, with a median age of 21.9 years, placing it among the 50 youngest populations globally. In contrast, in Israel, an estimated 12.4% of the population is 65 or older, and the country's median age of 30.4 years is roughly in line with the global median age of 31.
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Life Expectancy
Israel ranks among the top 10 countries worldwide for life expectancy, boasting an estimated average of 83.5 years.
Poverty and Unemployment
Since Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007, Israel, supported by Egypt, has imposed a blockade on the territory, tightly controlling the movement of people and goods. An International Monetary Fund report indicates that over 60% of Gazans lived in poverty, while the West Bank's poverty rate was 19%. Gaza's unemployment rate was a staggering 44% at the end of 2022, compared to the West Bank's 12%. The combined unemployment rate for the two Palestinian territories in 2022 was estimated to be 25.7%, ranking among the top five worst unemployment rates globally for that year.
In Israel, the unemployment rate in 2022 was much lower at 3.5%, similar to that of the U.S.
Gross Domestic Product
The economic struggle in both Palestinian territories spans decades. The territories' combined GDP per capita has not exceeded $6,500 in World Bank figures dating back to 1994. In 2022, the combined GDP per capita was about $5,700, nearly eight times lower than Israel's ($44,300) and less than 10% of the United States' figure ($64,700).
Gaza has received substantial foreign aid in recent years to alleviate the burdens imposed by the blockade. The U.S. has increased its aid to the Palestinian territories since 2021, following drastic cuts in the later years of the Trump administration.
Access to Services
In 2022, data indicates that 30% of the population in the West Bank and Gaza combined were not using safely managed sanitation services, and 1 in 5 were not using safely managed drinking water services. These shares were lower than global estimates. In Israel, 96% of the population used safely managed sanitation services, and 99% had access to safely managed drinking water services—higher than the U.S.
After the conflict began, Israel halted water supplies into the Gaza Strip. While some access was reportedly restored in southern Gaza, supplies remained limited.
Health Indicators
Infant and maternal mortality rates were estimated to be approximately four to six times higher in Gaza and the West Bank than in Israel as of 2020. However, the combined territories performed better than the world overall. Maternal mortality in the United States was slightly worse than in the Palestinian territories, according to 2020 estimates provided by the World Bank.
Educational Values
For many people in Israel and the Palestinian territories, core values emphasize education. In 2021, twice as many primary school-aged children were not in school in the West Bank and Gaza compared to Israel. For those attending, Palestinian teachers likely faced classrooms with twice as many pupils as Israeli teachers.
In conclusion, the recent conflict has added another layer of challenge to an already complex socio-economic landscape in Israel and the Palestinian territories. Understanding these various aspects provides a more comprehensive view of the lives affected by the ongoing situation.