This report provides an overview of the main stakeholders in Gaza and looks at the impact of the May 2021 conflict escalation on social and public infrastructures, and the agricultural sector. It is part of a series of independent analysis products to support humanitarian decision-making in Palestine.

This report provides an overview of the recent conflict escalation in the State of Palestine and highlights humanitarian needs in the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza Strip by analysing current needs, humanitarian constraints, underlying vulnerabilities, and aggravating factors that could lead to further hostilities.

In April 2020, the Israeli coalition government signed an agreement containing an article allowing the annexation of the West Bank territories. At the time of the writing of this note, the formal annexation has yet to start, despite initial plans to begin on 1 July. The potential impact of the annexation remains major for Palestinians, as was seen following the East Jerusalem annexation in 1980. 

This thematic report analyses the most pressing humanitarian needs in Gaza against the backdrop of long-standing vulnerabilities, access restrictions, and political developments. Research was conducted through the secondary data analysis and conversations with key informants in Gaza, West Bank, and Israel.

As of 17 July, 227 Palestinians have been killed, and 1,585 injured as a consequence of the hostilities. According to OCHA, nearly 80% of the casualties were civilians, of whom over a quarter were children.

Some 1,660 homes have either been destroyed or damaged, prompting the displacement of 9,900 individuals.

This is an update of the Briefing Note on the Humanitarian Impact of Operation Protective Edge on the Gaza Strip, published by ACAPS on 17/07/2014, in which drivers of the current conflict are fully elaborated.