The historical tragedy: evaluating social protection programs in Gaza

This chapter examines social protection programs in the Gaza Strip, employing a diverse methodological approach that includes desk reviews and interviews with senior government officials. We scrutinize twelve programs, each designed to target critical areas of social welfare: poverty alleviation, economic empowerment, food security, health, education, and sanitation. Despite a plethora of international efforts, current social protection paradigms in Gaza remain suboptimal, often failing to address the root causes of systemic issues or deliver transformative change. While these programs have achieved noteworthy progress within their respective domains, they are constrained by several formidable challenges. These limitations range from financial scarcities to complex geopolitical conditions, such as the ongoing conflict and blockade. Consequently, the existing programs offer only short-term relief and fail to address deeper, systemic issues like entrenched poverty and social inequality. This chapter posits the need for a more comprehensive, integrated strategy that extends beyond fragmented interventions, advocating for a holistic social protection plan in Gaza. The discussion culminates in a series of policy recommendations aimed at enhancing the immediate and long-term effectiveness of these vital programs.