Palestinian Population: Pawns in a Game Played by Ruthless Politicians

Overview

The Palestinian population faces an ongoing humanitarian crisis, with their lives and futures profoundly shaped and constrained by the ambitions and actions of political actors both within and outside of their territories. From Israel’s political establishment to the deep divisions within Palestinian leadership, external geopolitical maneuvers, and global diplomacy, Palestinians are frequently caught between powerful interests with little regard for their rights or well-being.

Current Political Realities

Humanitarian Crisis and Displacement

• Displacement and Insecurity: Nearly 1.9 million Palestinians are currently displaced, with the entire population of Gaza facing crisis-level or worse food insecurity. Proposals from certain political actors—including forced displacement into "humanitarian cities"—have been condemned internationally as unacceptable and a violation of basic rights.123

• Blockade and Siege: Gaza remains under a longstanding blockade, resulting in severe restrictions on the movement of people and goods, systematic deprivation, and repeated military assaults. Access to essentials like water, medical care, and reconstruction materials is routinely denied, exacerbating suffering.45

Political Manipulation and Division

• Internal Leadership Struggles: Palestinian politics are deeply fragmented, primarily between Fatah (West Bank) and Hamas (Gaza). This division prevents unified representation and impedes progress toward self-determination or peace negotiations. Polling shows widespread disillusionment: only 1 in 5 Palestinians are satisfied with President Mahmoud Abbas, and 81% want him to resign.67

• External Political Pressure: Israeli policies—including settlement expansion, land confiscation, and population control—are designed to cement control and limit Palestinian autonomy. These measures include forced evictions, military incursions, restrictions on movement, and unequal application of legal systems that consistently marginalize Palestinians.89

• International Involvement: Foreign governments regularly engage in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict for their own strategic interests. International proposals sometimes exacerbate tensions or result in adverse conditions for Palestinians, such as the rejected suggestions to forcibly move Gazans to Egypt or Jordan.163

Popular Sentiment and Social Impact

• Widespread Disillusionment: Polls and protests indicate that most Palestinians lack confidence in their own political leaders and see little hope for meaningful reform or statehood. Support for armed struggle is declining, while calls for both unity and leadership change grow louder.67

• Persistent Hardship: Everyday life for Palestinians is characterized by persistent insecurity, economic deprivation, and uncertainty. Strict controls, lack of access to critical services, and fears of further displacement frame a reality where ordinary people are "pawns" in a larger strategic contest.25

Historical Context: Systematic Marginalization

• Nakba (1947-48): The expulsion or flight of 700,000 Palestinians during Israel’s founding—known as the Nakba—set the stage for decades of dispossession and marginalization, with millions of Palestinians and their descendants still living as refugees.510

• Ongoing Occupation: Since 1967, the occupation of the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem has led to profound, systemic restrictions on the rights and freedom of movement for Palestinians, intensifying cycles of oppression and resistance.85

Population Statistics

Year	Total Palestinian Population	Notable Context
1948	~1.3 million	Nakba—mass displacement
2025	~5.6 million	Majority in West Bank and Gaza
11

The Role of "Ruthless Politicians"

• Power Struggles Over Principles: Both local and international politicians exploit the Palestinian issue for their own ends—retaining power, advancing ideological agendas, distracting from domestic issues, or shifting geopolitical realities. The interests of ordinary Palestinians are rarely the driving force behind political decisions affecting their fate.712

• Manipulation of Aid, Borders, and Security: Humanitarian aid and access, border controls, and security measures are routinely politicized, leaving non-combatants to bear the brunt of sanctions, blockades, and military escalation.42

• Lack of Effective Representation: Without unified, legitimate, and accountable political leadership—and with persistent foreign intervention—Palestinians remain vulnerable to being used as bargaining chips in a larger, often ruthless political game.6712

Conclusion

The Palestinian population’s reality—as victims of displacement, occupation, and political gridlock—reflects the consequences of their being treated as instruments in high-stakes power struggles rather than as people entitled to dignity, rights, and self-determination. Lasting peace and justice require centering their agency and addressing the root causes of their ongoing suffering, rather than allowing them to remain pawns in the game of ruthless politicians.

1. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/joint-statement-on-the-occupied-palestinian-territories
2. https://www.rescue.org/crisis-in-gaza
3. https://www.canada.ca/en/global-affairs/news/2025/07/joint-statement-on-behalf-of-26-partners-on-the-occupied-palestinian-territories.html
4. https://www.hrw.org/world-report/2025/country-chapters/israel-and-palestine
5. https://www.map.org.uk/the-issues/the-issues
6. https://pcpsr.org/en/node/997
7. https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/who-governs-palestinians
8. https://www.hrw.org/report/2021/04/27/threshold-crossed/israeli-authorities-and-crimes-apartheid-and-persecution
9. https://www.amnesty.org/en/location/middle-east-and-north-africa/middle-east/israel-and-the-occupied-palestinian-territory/report-israel-and-the-occupied-palestinian-territory/
10. https://www.un.org/unispal/history/
11. https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/state-of-palestine-population/
12. https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/while-other-countries-push-palestinian-state-israel-increasing-its-west-bank
13. https://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/palestine-weekly-report-18-24-july-2025
14. https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/country-files/israel-palestinian-territories/news/2025/article/israel-palestinian-territories-joint-statement-21-07-25
15. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographic_history_of_Palestine_(region)
16. https://www.un.org/unispal/document/auto-insert-206581/
17. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palestinians
18. https://www.unav.edu/web/global-affairs/war-in-palestine-and-its-impact-on-western-countries
19. https://www.britannica.com/place/Palestine
20. https://www.international.gc.ca/world-monde/international_relations-relations_internationales/mena-moan/israeli-palestinian_policy-politique_israelo-palestinien.aspx?lang=eng