What’s happening in Gaza and Palestine?

Last updated: 14 May 2026

Our staff and partners continue to deliver life-saving support in Gaza, despite the Israeli government’s systematic obstruction of aid.

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Gaza is part of the occupied Palestinian territory, on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.

It is roughly the same size as the Isle of Wight, and is home to around 2.1 million Palestinians.

After the six-day war in 1967, Israel occupied Gaza, the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and additionally the Syrian Golan and Shebaa Farms. All remain under Israel's unlawful military occupation.

In addition to the decades-long occupation, Gaza has also been under Israeli blockade since 2007. This means the Israeli government controls all sea, air and land access to Gaza.

Under international law, Israel, as the occupying power, is obliged to ensure the basic needs, safety, and welfare of the Palestinian population in occupied territory. This includes providing essential supplies like food, water, medical supplies, and shelter.

Yet, the Israeli government is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, who still face systematic violence and destruction, mass forced displacement, the blockade of life-saving aid, and the denial of their right to lead their own recovery and determine their future.

How many people have died in Gaza?

• The Israeli military has killed over 72,000 Palestinians in Gaza during this crisis, including over 20,000 children.
• Some estimates suggest that the Gaza death toll is much higher than the reported figures.
• Thousands of people are reportedly missing under the rubble.
• Around 4,000 to 4,500 children are estimated to have lost limbs due to the ongoing crisis. This constitutes the largest cohort of amputee children in modern history, with over 10 children losing one or both legs daily.

Can aid get into Gaza?

The Israeli government has implemented a number of policies to systematically destroy aid infrastructure and response in Gaza, including:

• Deliberately blocking life-saving essentials from entering Gaza. This is an unlawful act of collective punishment against Palestinians.
• Introducing punitive registration requirements that limit humanitarian organisations from operating in Gaza.
• Systematically targeting and destroying aid infrastructure, including warehouses and storage sites.
• Passing a law to ban UNRWA – the biggest and most established aid agency in Gaza – from operating.
• Killing over 500 humanitarian workers, including water engineers working with Oxfam partners.

Despite these huge obstacles, our colleagues and partners are working relentlessly to support people in their communities, often risking their lives.

Since October 2023 our teams and partners have reached over 1.3 million people with life-saving aid.

How much food is getting into Gaza?

The Israeli government has been using starvation as a weapon of war against Palestinians in Gaza.

• Man-made famine has hit areas of Gaza, and children have died from malnutrition.
• Crops, farms and fishing fleets have been destroyed.
• Many livestock have died of starvation.
• The price of food has increased dramatically. More than half the households in Gaza have been forced to sell their clothes to afford food.

How much clean water is available in Gaza?

Over 2 million people are currently struggling to survive without access to clean water. The Israeli government has used water as a weapon of war in Gaza.

• Almost 90% of water and sanitation infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed by the Israeli military, including Oxfam and partner infrastructure.
• This is having a dire impact on health. People are falling severely ill from easily preventable diseases like diarrhoea and jaundice.

Are there any hospitals left in Gaza?

The health system has been decimated across Gaza.

• All hospitals have been damaged. The small number of hospitals that are partly operational are struggling to cope with the number of casualties and are critically low on supplies.
• Over 1,700 health workers have been killed by the Israeli military.
• Those most at risk are people with disabilities, pregnant women or new mothers, those recovering from injuries, and people with chronic illnesses or weakened immune systems.

Where are people living in Gaza?

• Israeli military airstrikes and bombardment have forced nearly 2 million people – over 90% of the population – to flee their homes.
• Over 90% of residential buildings have been destroyed or damaged.
• People are sheltering in overcrowded schools, mosques, tents, and makeshift shelters – without power and with limited access to water, food, hygiene, and health services.
• Mice and rats are infesting camps, attacking children and spreading disease.

Palestinians and Israelis need and deserve a lasting peace, with justice and accountability.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruled in 2024 that states must not aid or assist Israel in its unlawful occupation of Palestinian territory.

Our government must act beyond the symbolic recognition of Palestine and towards true, meaningful statehood for Palestinians: full self-determination, economic sovereignty and an end to brutal occupation.

This means complying with international law and using its influence and leverage with the Israeli government, including ending all arms sales and military support to Israel.

Additionally, the government must continue to push for a permanent and meaningful ceasefire, and unimpeded humanitarian access in Gaza so aid can reach people in desperate need.

Oxfam has worked in the occupied Palestinian territory and Israel since the 1950s.

We have supported communities in Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem, to tackle the root causes of conflict, build resilience, and protect people’s rights.

Oxfam staff and our partners have worked under unimaginable conditions to deliver life-saving aid in Gaza.

Despite huge obstacles we’ve managed to reach more than 1.3 million people with essential support since October 2023. This includes emergency food parcels, cash and vouchers, clean water and sanitation, protection services, and psychosocial support.

But these efforts, while vital, have been a fraction of what is needed and what we are capable of delivering.

* Funds raised from this appeal will support people in Gaza, and may also be used to support communities in the West Bank and Lebanon.