West Bank and Gaza

West Bank and Gaza
Name	West Bank and Gaza
Settlement type	Region

West Bank and Gaza are contiguous Palestinian-inhabited territories on the eastern Mediterranean and central Levant that have been central to the Israeli–Palestinian dispute since the mid-20th century. The territories encompass parts of the Jordan River valley, the Dead Sea shores, and the Mediterranean Sea coastline and include major urban centers such as Ramallah, Hebron, Gaza City, and Nablus. They have been affected by events including the 1948 Arab–Israeli War, the 1967 Six-Day War, the First Intifada, and the Second Intifada, and are subjects of negotiations involving actors like the Palestine Liberation Organization, the State of Israel, the United Nations, and the Quartet on the Middle East.

Geography and Demographics

The territories span the West Bank highlands, the Jordan Valley, and the Gaza Strip coastal plain, lying between Israel, Jordan, and the Mediterranean Sea; major topographic features include the Mount of Olives, the Shephelah, and sections of the Negev Desert boundary. Population centers include Gaza City, Khan Yunis, Jabalia, Hebron (al-Khalil), Ramallah, Nablus, and Bethlehem, with demographic mixes influenced by migration events like the 1948 Palestinian exodus and the 1967 Palestinian exodus. Census and survey data are produced by institutions such as the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, the World Bank, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East, and the International Committee of the Red Cross, and populations include communities associated with families, clans, and refugee camps such as Balata camp and Shati camp. The territories contain archaeological and religious sites connected to Jerusalem, the Temple Mount, Hebron's Cave of the Patriarchs, and the Church of the Nativity, attracting pilgrims and scholars from Vatican City, Orthodox Church delegations, and international research teams.

History

Modern control of the areas shifted after the British Mandate for Palestine ended in 1948, with armistice lines established by the 1949 Armistice Agreements; subsequent sovereignty claims and administration were shaped by the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan annexation, the Egyptian administration of Gaza, and later occupation by Israel following the Six-Day War. Political developments featured the rise of the Palestine Liberation Organization, the proclamation of the State of Palestine, and negotiations framed by accords such as the Oslo Accords and the Camp David Summit (2000), as well as international efforts including UN Security Council Resolution 242 and UN General Assembly actions. Episodes of armed uprising and negotiation include the First Intifada, the Oslo I Accord, the Oslo II Accord, the Gaza–Jericho Agreement, and the Gaza disengagement plan; governance shifts saw institutions like the Palestinian Authority and movements such as Fatah and Hamas emerge as key local actors. External influences and interventions have involved states and organizations such as the United States, the European Union, the Arab League, and Egyptian–Israeli peace treaty mediations.

Political Status and Governance

Control and administration are divided: parts of the West Bank are subject to arrangements stemming from the Oslo Accords and classified under Areas A, B, and C, while the Gaza Strip has been governed by Hamas since 2007 following the Battle of Gaza (2007), with the Palestinian Authority maintaining different administrative and security roles in other localities. International recognition issues involve member states of the United Nations, diplomatic initiatives by the Arab League and the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, and bilateral relations with countries such as the United States, France, and Russia. Governance intersects with legal institutions including the Palestinian Basic Law, municipal councils like Gaza Municipality, and international missions such as the European Union Border Assistance Mission and UN bodies monitoring civil administration.

Economy and Infrastructure

Economic activity across the territories includes agriculture in the Jordan Valley, services in urban centers such as Ramallah and Gaza City, and limited industrial zones administered under varying controls; economic assessments are produced by the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. Trade corridors and restrictions involve crossings such as Karni Crossing, Kerem Shalom Crossing, Erez Crossing, and links with Israel and Egypt; infrastructure sectors encompass water systems tied to the Mountain Aquifer, electricity supplied through networks involving the Israel Electric Corporation and imports from Egypt, and telecommunications regulated by the Palestinian Telecommunications Regulatory Authority. Aid and development projects have been financed by donors including the European Union, the United States Agency for International Development, Norway, and international NGOs such as Oxfam and Doctors Without Borders.

Security and Conflict

The territories have been focal points for clashes involving the Israel Defense Forces, Palestinian armed groups including Hamas military wing and Islamic Jihad Movement in Palestine, and instances of settler-related violence involving communities stationed in settlements such as Ma'ale Adumim and Ariel. Major military operations and incidents include the Operation Defensive Shield, Operation Cast Lead, Operation Pillar of Defense, and episodes related to rocket fire from Gaza and targeted strikes in the West Bank. Security arrangements have been affected by agreements like the Gaza–Jericho Agreement and cooperation mechanisms overseen by international actors including the Quartet on the Middle East and liaison with states such as Egypt and Jordan.

Humanitarian and Social Issues

Humanitarian conditions are monitored by organizations including UNRWA, the International Committee of the Red Cross, Human Rights Watch, and Amnesty International; concerns encompass displacement from events like the 1948 Palestinian exodus and access restrictions affecting healthcare facilities such as hospitals in Gaza City and referral systems to Israel or Jordan. Social services involve education institutions such as Birzeit University and Al-Azhar University (Gaza), public health programs supported by the World Health Organization, and civil society actors including Palestinian Red Crescent Society. Populations face issues related to restrictions on movement at checkpoints such as Qalandia checkpoint, access to water from the Mountain Aquifer, and economic blockade effects tied to control of maritime zones and border crossings by Israel and Egypt.

International Law and Diplomacy

The status of the territories is addressed in instruments and forums such as UN Security Council Resolution 242, UN General Assembly Resolution 194, the Geneva Conventions, and advisory opinions by the International Court of Justice; diplomatic efforts have included negotiations under the Madrid Conference of 1991, the Oslo process, and peace proposals from actors like the United States and the Quartet on the Middle East. Recognition of a State of Palestine by numerous UN member states and membership upgrades at the United Nations coexist with continued debates in forums including the International Criminal Court and bilateral relations with capitals such as Washington, D.C., Paris, London, and Moscow.

Category:Palestinian territories