Homicide Surge Hits Palestinian Communities inside Israel, Raising Security Concerns

Multiple organizations are actively engaged in addressing the humanitarian and psychosocial needs in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) amid ongoing conflict and violence. MdM Switzerland and its related chapters focus on mental health and psychosocial support, advocacy for human rights, and improving health access across the West Bank and Gaza. War Child, alongside partners, implements emergency mental health and psychosocial support programs targeting children, adolescents, and caregivers to help them cope with trauma and displacement. Meanwhile, humanitarian aid to Gaza has resumed at a limited pace, with the World Food Programme delivering critical food and medical supplies, though the volume remains insufficient to meet urgent needs. At the same time, Palestinian communities inside Israel face a surge in organized criminal violence and homicides, exacerbated by illicit arms proliferation and inadequate law enforcement response. These intersecting crises highlight both the acute humanitarian challenges and the complex social dynamics Palestinians face within and beyond the occupied territories.