Homosexuality
    Varies by Region
    Gay Marriage
    ✖ Unrecognized
    Censorship
    Varies by Region
    Changing Gender
    Ambiguous
    Gender-Affirming Care
    ✔ Legal
    Non-Binary Gender Recognition
    ✖ Not legally recognized
    Discrimination
    ✖ No protections
    Employment Discrimination
    ✖ No protections
    Housing Discrimination
    ✖ No protections
    Adoption
    ✖ Single only
    Intersex Infant Surgery
    ✖ Not banned
    Military
    N/A
    Donating Blood
    ✖ Banned (indefinite deferral)
    Conversion Therapy
    ✖ Not banned
    Age of Consent
    Varies by Region
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An analysis of recent data in Palestine indicates a widespread and severe resistance to LGBTQ+ rights, a situation that is deeply troubling to human rights advocates.

Perception of LGBTQ+ People

Survey results from 5 LGBTQ+ Equaldex users who lived in or visited Palestine.

Overall

Overall

Perceived Safety*

Feel safe being open
Absence of verbal harassment
Absence of threats and violence
*Survey results represent personal perceptions of safety and may not be indicative of current actual conditions.

Equal Treatment

Treatment by peers
Treatment by family
Treatment at work
Treatment at school
Treatment by general public
Treatment by businesses
Treatment by law enforcement
Treatment by religious groups

Visibility & Representation

Inclusion in education
Representation in entertainment
Representation in news
Political support
Out public figures

Culture

Pride/events
Nightlife
Dating life
Interest groups and clubs

Services

Health and wellness
Gender-affirming care
Support and social services
Advocacy and legal

History

Homosexual activity in Palestine

?

Homosexual activity in Palestine is varies by region.

Current status
Since Jan 1, 1951
Varies by Region
Homosexuality remains taboo in Palestinian territories.

Mixed Legality:
- West Bank (Partially still occupied by Israel): Legal since 1951

In 2022, the brutal killing of Ahmad Abu Murkhiyeh, a gay Palestinian man who had sought asylum in Israel, ignited shock and sparked discussions about LGBTQ+ safety and rights within Palestinian territories.

In August 2019, the Palestinian Authority police banned the LGBTQ+ rights group Al Qaws from holding events in the West Bank, sparking debate on Palestinian social media and drawing attention in Israel. Al Qaws, which advocates for sexual and gender diversity in a largely conservative society, condemned the intimidation and called for a focus on addressing broader issues like occupation.

Legal

  1. Jerusalem 1951

Same-sex marriage in Palestine

?

Same-sex marriage in Palestine is unrecognized.

Current status
Since 1994
Unrecognized
In the areas administrated by the Palestinian Authority and the Gaza Strip, same-sex marriage is unrecognized.
Report error  ·  Log

Censorship of LGBT issues in Palestine

?

Censorship of LGBT issues in Palestine is varies by region.

Current status
Since 2019
Varies by Region
The Palestinian Police Authorities in the West Bank banned the activities of queer and feminist rights organization Al Qaws as requested by residents in report of 'suspicious' activities, however, this law was later retired following internacional backlash. On the Gaza strip, there is no information about the topic.

Right to change legal gender in Palestine

?

Right to change legal gender in Palestine is ambiguous.

Current status
Ambiguous
In the occupied west bank yes, unclear in Area A.
Report error  ·  Log

Gender-affirming care in Palestine

?

Gender-affirming care in Palestine is legal.

Current status
Since 2008
Legal
In 2008, Palestine adopted the ICD-10 classification, which contains codes for diagnosing transsexualism in adulthood and childhood, which authorize the initiation of medical transition.
Report error  ·  Log

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Palestine

?

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Palestine is not legally recognized.

Current status
Not legally recognized
There are no laws legally recognizing non-binary genders.
Sources:
(Source needed)
Report error  ·  Log

LGBT discrimination in Palestine

?

LGBT discrimination in Palestine is no protections.

Current status
Since 1992
No protections
In the areas administrated by the palestinian authority and the gaza strip, there is no protections for lgbt personel. For Israeli citizens in the Occupied West Bank; Employment, Hate Speech and Good & Services Discriminations covered.
Report error  ·  Log

LGBT employment discrimination in Palestine

?

LGBT employment discrimination in Palestine is no protections.

Current status
No protections
In the areas controlled by the Palestinian authority and the Gaza strip,there is no protections for LGBTQ+ personel.For Israeli Citizens in the Occupied West Bank.
Report error  ·  Log

LGBT housing discrimination in Palestine

?

LGBT housing discrimination in Palestine is no protections.

Current status
No protections
In the areas controlled by the Palestinian authority and the Gaza strip,there is no protections for LGBTQ+ personel. For Israeli citizens in the Occupied West Bank.
Report error  ·  Log

Same-sex adoption in Palestine

?

Same-sex adoption in Palestine is single only.

Current status
Single only
There are no laws in place regarding adoption for same-sex couples.
Report error  ·  Log

Intersex infant surgery in Palestine

?

Intersex infant surgery in Palestine is not banned.

Current status
Not banned
Not banned in Palestine.
Report error  ·  Log

Serving openly in military in Palestine

?

Serving openly in military in Palestine is n/a.

Current status
N/A
The state of palestine doesn't have a military, however LGBT personel are not asked about their sexuality to serve the national police of Palestine.
Report error  ·  Log

Blood donations by MSMs in Palestine

?

Blood donations by MSMs in Palestine is banned (indefinite deferral).

Current status
Banned (indefinite deferral)
Illegal, homosexuals can't donate blood in palestine (except
for Israeli citizens).
Report error  ·  Log

Conversion therapy in Palestine

?

Conversion therapy in Palestine is not banned.

Current status
Since 2014
Not banned
Conversion Theraphy is partially banned in the Occupied West Bank for Israeli Citizens but in the Gaza Strip and the areas of West Bank under the Palestinian Authorities there is no ban towards conversion theraphy for LGBT people.

Equal age of consent in Palestine

?

Equal age of consent in Palestine is varies by region.

Current status
Varies by Region
In the West Bank, the age of consent is equal for both males and females (18 years). In the Gaza Strip, it is unequal for males.
Report error  ·  Log


LGBT Rights by Governorates

View the LGBT laws in each individual governorates of Palestine.