Executive Summary

Overview

Economic and social life in the West Bank remains severely constrained by widespread movement restrictions, including the closure of checkpoints and gates between cities and towns. Since October 7, 2023, these restrictions have disrupted daily travel, limited access to workplaces, and curtailed local trade, compounding the Palestinian Authority’s ongoing financial crisis, with public sector salaries only partially paid and resulting in a severe reduction of essential services such as health and education. Despite a slight decrease in food and fuel prices during May and June, this provides only temporary respite from wider challenges posed by surplus cash resulting from restrictions on payments into banks to create additional digital payment channels for the procurement of such imported goods. Overall, the situation remains fragile; rising job losses, reduced household incomes, and increasing reliance on credit have intensified social and financial pressures, leaving households more vulnerable and food insecurity on the rise.