Ministry of Social Development Warns of the Growing Disintegration of Palestinian Families Due to the Continued Closure of Gaza's Border Crossings
The Ministry of Social Development warns of the grave social and humanitarian consequences resulting from the ongoing Israeli aggression and the continued closure of the Gaza Strip's border crossings. The impact has extended far beyond the destruction of homes, infrastructure, and livelihoods, reaching the very fabric of the Palestinian family by depriving thousands of families of their right to live together and remain united as a result of prolonged forced separation.
The Ministry affirms that the continued closure of the crossings and the restrictions preventing Palestinians from returning to or leaving the Gaza Strip have left a large number of spouses separated for extended periods. In many cases, one spouse was forced to leave Gaza for medical treatment, education, employment, or other humanitarian reasons, while the other was unable to join them or return. This reality has created increasingly complex family and social circumstances, leading some families to dissolve their marriages because maintaining normal family life has become impossible.
The Ministry stresses that children are the most severely affected by these circumstances. Many are growing up without the presence of one of their parents, depriving them of a sense of security and family stability. This has serious implications for their psychological and social well-being, adversely affecting their healthy development and increasing their vulnerability to psychological and behavioural disorders amid the devastating humanitarian conditions in the Gaza Strip.
The prolonged separation of family members has also intensified the economic burden on affected households, as many have lost their sources of income or are unable to access them. Combined with rising poverty and growing dependence on humanitarian assistance, these conditions have significantly increased the pressures facing Palestinian families and further undermined their resilience.
The Ministry considers the fragmentation of Palestinian families in the Gaza Strip to be one of the most serious social consequences of Israel's policies. It constitutes a clear violation of the right to family life, freedom of movement, and family reunification, all of which are protected under international humanitarian law and international human rights law.
The Ministry of Social Development calls on the United Nations, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), and all international and human rights organizations to uphold their legal and humanitarian responsibilities by taking urgent action to press for the reopening of the border crossings, ensure freedom of movement for civilians, facilitate the reunification of Palestinian families, and strengthen psychosocial, social protection, and humanitarian support programmes for affected households in order to protect children and preserve family unity.
The Ministry reiterates that protecting the Palestinian family is both a national and humanitarian priority. The continued forced separation of families is deepening the social crisis in the Gaza Strip and requires urgent international action to end these violations and enable Palestinian families to exercise their fundamental right to live together in dignity and safety.