Thursday briefing: How the war in Gaza is making life harder for Israel’s Palestinian citizens

In today’s newsletter: The longstanding oppression and marginalisation of Palestinians in Israel has intensified. Many now feel as if they’re living under a military regime

Sadly for many it has always been so – now it is just terrifying for them – before October 7 I witnessed young Israeli children throwing faeces and rubbish from their apartments on to Palestinian children trying to go to school and many other inhumane actions – imagine what it is like now – Mark

As Israel’s war in Gaza rages on, having killed 45,000 Palestinians and transformed the densely populated territory into a landscape of rubble and ash, Palestinian citizens of Israel (PCIs) find themselves in a precarious position.
Comprising 20% of Israel’s population, PCIs have long experienced systemic discrimination. This marginalisation was starkly highlighted in 2018, when the Knesset passed a law declaring Israel the nation state of the Jewish people, effectively undermining the principle of civic equality for non-Jewish residents.
Palestinian identity within Israel is fraught with challenges. Discussions of Palestinian displacement in public settings such as schools can result in punitive measures, such as the potential loss of state funding. Oppression is deeply entrenched: PCIs are issued distinct identification documents that categorise individuals by race and religion, significantly constraining their residential and social mobility.
Even democratic participation is complicated. While PCIs can vote as Israeli passport holders – unlike residents of East Jerusalem who hold only residency status and cannot vote – the electoral process is often marked by intimidation and logistical barriers