Palestine and Gaza FAQ
Clear answers to the most common questions about Palestine, Gaza, the occupation, international law, and what you can do. Every answer links to a primary source.
The Basics
What is happening in Gaza right now?
Since October 7, 2023, Israel has conducted its deadliest military campaign in Gaza’s history. As of February 12, 2026, Gaza’s Ministry of Health had recorded 72,045 Palestinians killed and 171,686 injured (UN OCHA Situation Update #357) — over half of them women and children. More than 70% of Gaza’s housing has been destroyed. The UN World Food Programme has confirmed famine conditions in northern Gaza. The International Court of Justice is actively adjudicating a genocide case brought by South Africa.
Sources: UN OCHA. WFP Gaza. ICJ Case 192
What is the occupation?
In 1967, Israel captured the West Bank, East Jerusalem, Gaza Strip, Sinai Peninsula, and Golan Heights. UN Security Council Resolution 242 — passed unanimously — called for Israeli withdrawal. Israel has not withdrawn from the West Bank or East Jerusalem. The occupation, now in its 58th year, is the longest military occupation of recognized territory in modern history. Under international law, occupying powers are prohibited from settling their civilian populations in occupied territory (Geneva Convention IV, Article 49).
Sources: UNSC Resolution 242. Geneva Convention IV, Article 49
What is the Nakba?
The Nakba (Arabic for “catastrophe”) refers to the 1947–1949 period when Zionist military forces destroyed more than 500 Palestinian villages and expelled 700,000–800,000 Palestinians to create a Jewish-majority state. Those expelled and their descendants — now numbering nearly 6 million — are registered as refugees with UNRWA and have the legal right of return under UN Resolution 194, which Israel has refused to implement for over 75 years.
Sources: UNRWA — Who Are Palestinian Refugees?. Pappé, Ilan. The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine. Oneworld, 2006.
What is apartheid, and does it apply to Israel?
Apartheid is a crime under international law defined by systematic oppression and domination of one racial group by another. In 2021 and 2022, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International — the two largest human rights organizations in the world — each published comprehensive legal analyses concluding that Israel’s system of control over Palestinians meets this definition. The Israeli human rights organization B’Tselem reached the same conclusion in 2021.
Sources: HRW — A Threshold Crossed (2021). Amnesty — Israel’s Apartheid Against Palestinians (2022). B’Tselem — This Is Apartheid (2021)
Law, Rights, and Accountability
What does international law say about Israel’s actions?
Multiple bodies of international law are directly relevant. The Geneva Conventions prohibit collective punishment (Art. 33), the transfer of civilian populations into occupied territory (Art. 49), and the deliberate obstruction of humanitarian aid (Arts. 23, 59). The Rome Statute covers war crimes and crimes against humanity. The Genocide Convention — which Israel has ratified — prohibits acts intended to destroy a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group in whole or in part.
Sources: ICRC — Geneva Convention IV. UN — Genocide Convention
What is the ICJ genocide case?
On January 11, 2024, South Africa filed an application before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) accusing Israel of violating the Genocide Convention. The ICJ issued provisional measures in January 2024 ordering Israel to take all measures within its power to prevent acts that could constitute genocide and to ensure the delivery of humanitarian assistance. The full merits case is ongoing.
Source: ICJ — Application of the Genocide Convention (South Africa v. Israel)
Have any arrest warrants been issued?
Yes. On November 21, 2024, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity, including the use of starvation as a method of warfare. These warrants are legally binding on all 124 ICC member states.
What You Can Do
How can I help?
The most direct actions are: contacting your elected representatives to oppose military aid, donating to verified humanitarian organizations operating in Gaza, and supporting the Palestinian-led BDS movement. See our Know More page for a full list of organizations and specific steps.
Where can I donate?
These organizations have transparent financials and verified operations in Gaza: Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP), Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF), Doctors Without Borders (MSF), UNRWA, and World Central Kitchen.
How can I share accurate information?
Link to primary sources rather than social media posts. The most credible sources are UN agencies (OCHA, UNRWA, WHO), established human rights organizations (Amnesty, HRW, B’Tselem), and the ICJ and ICC’s own published records. Our Know More page compiles the key reports in one place.