During the genocidal war waged by the Israeli occupation on the Gaza Strip, Palestinian civil society organizations in Gaza played a crucial role in supporting our people—each according to its specialization—across multiple areas, including food, health, education, psychological and social empowerment, as well as continuing efforts to empower youth, women, and children, among others.

Despite the brutality and harsh conditions imposed by the occupation, these organizations did not stop working. Both the NGO network and human rights organizations demonstrated remarkable adaptability in the face of extreme repression and barbarism that exceeded even the atrocities of the Second World War, involving acts of extermination and ethnic cleansing.

This adaptability was evident through the establishment of temporary offices in the central and southern regions of Gaza, the rehabilitation of offices in Gaza City after the ceasefire announcement, the resumption of professional sectoral meetings, and the strengthening of their status in coordination meetings with international bodies—whether UN-affiliated or international NGOs.

Human rights organizations continued to document violations professionally, to strengthen international solidarity networks, and to follow up on war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by the occupation. They also closely monitored the decisions issued by the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court regarding the genocidal war and the condemnation of occupation practices. These efforts contributed to political progress, most notably the growing international recognition of the State of Palestine under international law.


Following the ceasefire—despite its fragility—civil society organizations continued their activities with even greater energy and effectiveness. Each worked within its field to help communities recover, rebuild hope, and strengthen resilience, striving to provide the essentials of life in the face of a new form of warfare: the restriction of humanitarian aid, delays in implementing subsequent phases of withdrawal, and selective strikes under false pretexts.

Undoubtedly, NGOs alone cannot face these overwhelming challenges, especially given the massive scale of destruction, with reconstruction estimated to cost around $70 billion. However, they can help identify key priorities and challenges and alleviate some of the burdens within their available capacities.


The current priorities of civil society, as part of the broader national priorities, include:

  • Consolidating the ceasefire, which remains fragile.
  • Pressuring the occupying power to allow humanitarian aid and implement new withdrawal phases.
  • Securing the minimum requirements for life to prevent “voluntary” (effectively forced) migration.
  • Accelerating the reconstruction process under a Palestinian national framework, independent of external control or colonial exploitation—particularly projects like “Regera,” proposed during Trump’s era, which pose serious threats of displacement and the transformation of Gaza into an economic zone exploited at the expense of its indigenous population.

While forming a technical and professional technocratic committee would be useful for service delivery, citizen relief, and early recovery, it is essential that this committee remain part of a unified Palestinian national system. This ensures that Gaza is not separated from the West Bank, preventing replication of such fragmented models elsewhere that could turn Palestinian areas into isolated cantons, undermining the legal and political unity of the State of Palestine recognized under international law.

One of the most urgent tasks for civil society today is promoting civil peace and social cohesion. The Palestinian community—especially in Gaza—needs diverse grassroots initiatives led by youth and women to safeguard civil peace, strengthen dialogue, and promote nonviolent conflict resolution. This should include gradual rebuilding of the justice system to resolve disputes legally, moving away from revenge and vigilante justice, and laying the foundations for transitional justice through mechanisms such as compensation, reparation, reconciliation, forgiveness, and mutual acceptance.

It is now time to enhance the leadership role of civil society organizations during the early recovery phase, ensuring that their perspectives and priorities—derived from the needs of marginalized and vulnerable groups—are reflected in recovery and revitalization plans currently being developed by international organizations, especially those under the UN umbrella.

Promoting a genuine partnership philosophy between international and local civil society organizations is not merely a demand but a necessity. This applies across relief, empowerment, and reconstruction efforts. Experience has proven that local leadership in civil society work is the key safeguard for maintaining the social fabric and providing a community safety net during and after crises—particularly in facing the existential threats that have targeted our people throughout two years of genocidal war.

The challenges remain immense, but the steadfastness and unity of Palestinian civil society continue to serve as a foundation for resilience and hope.