Gaza conflict drives social and political shifts in Palestinian society

The ongoing conflict in Gaza is driving profound social and political transformations within Palestinian society. In Gaza, a stark economic divide is emerging as the war economy creates new classes of wealthy individuals—including traders and service providers—while the majority of the population faces extreme poverty, displacement, and total loss of income.

This widening gap between those benefiting from wartime commerce and those reliant on aid is eroding the middle class and traditional social values. Simultaneously, political discussions regarding the future of Palestinians in Israel are facing critical scrutiny. There is an ongoing debate regarding the political projects of figures like Mansour Abbas and the United Arab List, specifically whether their pragmatic approach to civil rights and integration serves as a long-term strategy or a temporary tactic born of fear and a lack of political horizons.