DayofPal—Palestinian citizens living in 1948 occupied territories are disproportionately affected by rising poverty levels, according to a new annual report released by Israel’s National Insurance Institute.
The report, published on Thursday, shows that around two million people in occupied territories were living below the poverty line in 2024, including 880,000 children, more than a quarter of all children in the country.
Israel now ranks second among OECD countries for child poverty, with 28 percent of children classified as poor.
Social inequality has continued to widen, the report notes, with 65.1 percent of people living in poverty belonging to disadvantaged communities.
Palestinian citizens in 1948 occupied territories were the most affected group, with 37.6 percent of Palestinian households living below the poverty line. Haredi Jewish households followed, at 32.8 percent.
Officials at the institute cited the impact of Israel’s war on Gaza and the rising cost of living as major contributors to the worsening economic situation.
Deputy Director General Zvika Cohen said these factors had intensified existing problems rather than creating new ones, warning that poverty would continue to be passed down generations without targeted investment in children, young families, and social services.
Nitza Kassir, the institute’s deputy director for research and planning, stressed the need for a stronger social safety net, particularly in the aftermath of the war, as income levels decline.
She noted that economic hardship is not evenly distributed and is more severe among communities already facing structural disadvantages.
According to the report, 27.8 percent of households across occupied territories are unable to make ends meet, with Palestinian citizens consistently ranking as the most economically vulnerable.
Nearly half of Palestinian households struggle to cover basic monthly expenses, including healthcare, medication, and food.
Palestinians in 1948 occupied territories, who make up about 21 percent of the country’s population, have long faced systemic discrimination in access to housing, employment, and public services.
Rights groups say these disparities have deepened in recent years, particularly since October 2023, as Israel passed dozens of laws that critics argue restrict Palestinian civil, political, and social rights.
Palestinians in 1948 occupied territories, who make up about 21 percent of the country’s population, have long faced systemic discrimination in access to housing, employment, and public services.
Rights groups say these disparities have deepened in recent years, particularly since October 2023, as Israel passed dozens of laws that critics argue restrict Palestinian civil, political, and social rights.
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