The occupied Palestinian territories and Israel
In the occupied Palestinian territories and Israel, Oxfam’s focus is on helping people earn a living and access a sustainable supply of food, providing water and sanitation, building a stronger civil society, and empowering communities to have a say in the decisions that affect their lives.
Pressing for peace
The conflict in the occupied Palestinian territories and Israel continues to deny ordinary people their basic rights.
Oxfam identifies the end of Israel's 43-year occupation of the Palestinian territory as fundamental, not only to delivering peace and security, but also to helping end poverty and injustice for Israelis and Palestinians alike.
We also recognise that neighbouring countries, the Palestinian Authority, and Hamas must also play their role in securing peace and that all these authorities have, at times, failed to uphold the rights of the Palestinians.
More on how Oxfam believes peace can be achieved
Slideshow: Harvesting prosperity in the West Bank
The state of Gaza should shame us all, by Oxfam Director Barbara Stocking
How Oxfam is helping
Oxfam's partners in the occupied Palestinian territories and Israel work to promote a just and sustainable peace between Israelis and Palestinians. In Israel, Oxfam works to strengthen civil society in order to help change perceptions, and in Israel increase awareness and understanding of the impact of the conflict's impact.
More on our work with Israeli civil society
We are also supporting Israeli organisations that promote respect for human rights by raising awareness of the social and moral costs of the occupation.
Human rights are sacred rights we should care about. Everyone has the right to live in freedom and dignity.
Israeli doctor, Oxfam partner, Physicians for Human Rights
In the West Bank and Gaza we are working to empower communities affected by the consequences of the Israeli occupation through projects that improve people's livelihoods, give them access to clean water, help them speak out about injustice, and encourage self-sufficiency. Our work aims to build resilience and dignity at individual and community level, helping people to help themselves.
Learn more
Read more examples of our work in the occupied Palestinian territories and Israel:
ECHO (Humanitarian Aid Department of the European Commission) is a funding partner of Oxfam in the occupied Palestinian Territories and Israel
Building a sustainable future for small scale farmers
The occupation continues to stifle economic growth in the West Bank. Occupation makes exporting unprofitable and many farmers and cooperatives in the West Bank are having a hard time covering their costs and making ends meet.
More than 100,000 Palestinians rely on olive farming as the primary source of their income. Yet despite producing a surplus of olive oil, Palestinian olive farmers have little incentive to send their oil abroad. Land confiscations, the inability to access markets due to checkpoints and closures and water scarcity make it difficult to secure a sustainable future.
How Oxfam is helping
Oxfam is working to give individuals and communities sustainable solutions to overcome poverty. Using an inclusive, rights based approach to development, Oxfam’s work with farmers and small cooperatives is focusing on giving them a decent living from the products they make.
Through the Enterprise Development Programme, Oxfam is helping cooperatives become self sufficient through technical support and training on marketing and financial management. We are also providing women’s cooperatives with interest-free loans so that they can see more tangible benefits now and make more strategic decisions about the future.
People used to worry about marketing, but now we know our product is reaching markets who care about what we are doing.
Mahmoud Al Qadi from the Bani Zeid Co-operative for Organic Production.
To put the incentive back into producing, Oxfam has come up with a plan to support olive growers by helping to certify their oil as Fairtrade, which means anywhere it is marketed the farmers are guaranteed to get a fair price. With funding from the European Union the project is helping 30 co-operatives gain Fairtrade status and organic certification. Once their oil has been branded Fairtrade, it can reach global markets and fetch a premium price.
Other development work
- Fostering sustainable business relationships between small-scale producers, investors, and exporters
- Helping farmers and herders adapt to climatic shocks through drought-resistant farming practices
- Working with co-operatives and farmers to improve the quality and quantity of their products
- Encouraging participation and increasing local level decision making through our Community Development project
Oxfam's work in the occupied Palestinian territories and Israel in depth
Crisis in Gaza
More than a year after the Israeli military offensive, the people of Gaza remain in a state of continuing humanitarian crisis.
Middle East crisis 2006
In response to the month-long war between Israel and Lebanon in July 2006, Oxfam launched a £1m appeal to help innocent people caught up in the fighting.
Find out more about Oxfam's response to the Middle East crisis
Oxfam Connects
Provide safe water for children and their families in Gaza.
Latest news
Latest reports from the occupied Palestinian territories and Israel.
Interactive map
Oxfam's work in the occupied Palestinian territories and Israel.
