Israel and the occupied territories

We have been present in Israel and the occupied territories since 1967 and have offices in Tel Aviv, Gaza, and across the West Bank, including East Jerusalem. We carry out our work in coordination with our partners, the Palestine Red Crescent Society and Magen David Adom in Israel.

East Jerusalem, Abu Dis area. West bank barrier (2010).

Our work in Israel and the occupied territories

The ICRC has been present in Israel and the occupied territories (including the Golan, West Bank and Gaza Strip, and Shebaa Farms) since 1967. As a neutral, impartial and independent humanitarian organization, we promote compliance with international humanitarian law (IHL) and work to mitigate the impact of armed conflict, other violence and occupation on civilians through our protection activities and assistance programmes.

For example, the ICRC visits detainees in Israeli and Palestinian places of detention and strives to maintain family links through the Family Visit Programme. We also support projects throughout the occupied Palestinian territory that help people earn a livelihood and help those in Gaza to improve their access to essential services like water and electricity.

Above all, we stand up for people impacted by conflict and promote their rights and dignity. We consistently remind parties to the conflict of their obligations under IHL though bilateral and confidential dialogue.

The ICRC has offices in Tel Aviv, Gaza, and throughout the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and supports the work of the Palestine Red Crescent Society and Magen David Adom in Israel

Stories from the people we serve and our staff

During the latest escalation, the paramedics applied what they’d learned from the ICRC specialists, which helped them save many lives.

Head of the Emergency Medical Specialists Training and Capacity Development Department in Gaza Dr Raafat Jaarour

I went to the Artificial Limb and Polio Centre to get a prosthetic leg. They told me that the ICRC could help me start a business. The business is going well. I’ve hired a young man who, like me, lost his leg due to injury, and another young man with a physical disability.

Amro Coffee kiosk owner in Gaza

When the ICRC first visited me, I had started this small project. When I received the first round of support, I had greenhouses and wanted to set them up and expand my project. The idea grew bigger, and the greenhouses turned into bigger ones, stretching over two dunums of land.

Aysar Farmer in the West Bank

The impact of our work - From 7 October 2023 to 31 January 2024

5846

requests registered from family members seeking to clarify the fate and whereabouts of their loved ones through existing channels and additional emergency hotlines in Arabic, Hebrew, and English. So far, more than 600 cases have been closed.

109

hostages were transferred from Gaza to their families in Israel.

11,164

forensic items distributed to facilitate the dignified management, identification and eventual return of human remains to their families. 1,200 items distributed in Israel. Over 9,800 items distributed in Gaza.

154

Palestinian detainees were released from Israeli places of detention and transferred home under ICRC’s auspices.

1320

surgical procedures performed at the European Gaza Hospital since 1 November 2023, of which, around 50% were general surgical interventions, 26.5% were reconstructive surgery, and 23.5% were orthopaedic surgery.

50,000

vulnerable individuals in Gaza, mostly persons internally displaced by the hostilities, received cash assistance to cover basic needs for one month.

126

real-time interventions done with authorities to facilitate access and safe passage for Palestinian red Crescent ambulances because of the violence in the West Bank.

Contact us

Tel Aviv

Address

37 Menachem Begin, Rubenstein Building, Tel Aviv

Telephone

+972 35 24 52 86

Opening Hours:

8am – 4pm

Media contact

Gilad Grossman

Jerusalem

Address

Address: Nablus Road 26, Sheikh Jarrah District, PO Box 20253, 91202, Jerusalem

Telephone

+972 2 59 17 900

Opening Hours:

8am – 4pm

Media contact

Sarah Davies

Ramallah

Address

Saydoun Street, Building number 5, Al Bireh, PO Box 29, Ramallah

Media contact

Mohammad Abdallah

Community Contact Centre

Telephone

+970 82832400

Opening Hours:

8am - 4pm
Monday - Sunday

Our work with the Palestine Red Crescent Society

The ICRC works closely with the Palestine Red Crescent Society in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip and with Magen David Adom in Israel. This includes coordinating humanitarian activities, exchanging technical knowledge, and providing support to respond to urgent needs.