Analytical Study from a Feminist Perspective: Twenty-Five Years Later UNSCR 1325 in Palestine, Between Reality and Ambition

In the complex Palestinian context, the roles of key actors—including civil society, political parties, and the government—intersect in efforts to implement the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda (WPSA) under UN Security Council Resolution 1325. Despite limited progress made by these stakeholders, structural challenges—most notably the Israeli occupation and internal political division—threaten to reduce these efforts to mere rhetoric, lacking meaningful practice.

Civil Society: A Force for Pressure and Innovation

Palestinian civil society has played a pivotal role in advancing the WPSA by documenting violations against women—including arbitrary arrests and sexual violence—and submitting these findings to international bodies. Organizations such as the General Union of Palestinian Women (GUPW), the Women’s Centre for Legal Aid and Counselling (WCLAC), and the Palestinian Working Woman Society for Development have successfully produced shadow reports that expose the gap between official commitments and actual implementation. These institutions have also provided direct services, including shelters for survivors of violence and training programs in leadership and negotiation skills.

However, these efforts face distinct challenges—chief among them, dependence on conditional international funding that often compels organizations to avoid linking gender-based violence to Israeli occupation practices. Moreover, Palestinian women human rights defenders are subject to severe restrictions on movement, targeted demolitions of women's centers, and widespread surveillance. Community resistance also remains a barrier; public awareness campaigns advocating for structural reform are often accused of “undermining traditional values.”

Political Parties: Between Symbolic Discourse and Complex Realities

Political parties—including Fateh, Hamas, and others—have shown a nominal commitment to the WPSA through symbolic policies, such as the adoption of quota systems to ensure women’s representation in leadership structures. Fateh, for instance, allocated 20% of Revolutionary Council seats to women, while Hamas promotes the role of women in “popular resistance.” Yet women’s actual participation in decision-making—particularly in the security and military spheres—remains marginal. Within Fateh, for example, women hold only a small percentage of Central Committee positions. A key challenge lies in the dominance of historic male elites who control nomination mechanisms and sideline capable women leaders.

The political division between the West Bank and Gaza further complicates the development of a unified vision for women’s empowerment, as each governing authority implements separate, uncoordinated programs. Most concerning is the political instrumentalization of women’s participation, often used as a tool to gain international legitimacy without granting them real power.

The Government: Between International Commitments and Lack of Sovereignty

The Palestinian government—particularly through the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and its international partners—has sought to translate global commitments into policy actions, such as the launch of the National Action Plan to implement UNSCR 1325 (2021–2024), which aimed to increase women’s participation in peace processes by 30%. It also succeeded in training hundreds of women in mediation and established gender units in some ministries.

However, the government faces existential challenges, first and foremost the Israeli occupation, which restricts its ability to operate in both Gaza and the West Bank. A suffocating blockade impedes humanitarian aid and paralyzes service delivery. The loss of control over border crossings and the absence of legitimacy in Hamas-ruled Gaza further weaken governmental capacities. On the legislative front, efforts to pass a Family Protection Law have stalled due to opposition from conservative blocs in the defunct Palestinian Legislative Council—highlighting the contradiction between progressive discourse and societal realities.

Shared Challenges: Israeli Occupation and Patriarchal Norms

Despite differing roles, all three sectors share overlapping challenges stemming from the broader Palestinian context. Chief among them is the Israeli occupation, which systematically deploys gendered violence as a means of repression, including house demolitions and arbitrary arrests. The internal division between Fateh and Hamas continues to fragment efforts, as disjointed programs unfold in the West Bank and Gaza. Moreover, entrenched patriarchal norms reinforce stereotypical gender roles and resist the inclusion of women in “security matters” and decision-making spaces.

The Way Forward: Strategic Partnerships and International Pressure

Meaningful progress on the WPSA requires a tripartite strategic partnership among civil society, political parties, and the government. This partnership must embrace bold legislative reforms—such as the ratification of the Family Protection Law—and tie governmental funding to the achievement of gender quotas. At the international level, pressure must be applied to sanction Israel for its violation of UNSCR 1325, and donors must be urged to condition aid on transparency and compliance with gender equality standards.

At the grassroots level, widespread awareness campaigns targeting men and youth are essential, alongside the inclusion of women in the design of security policies—steps necessary to break the cycle of impunity.

Conclusion: Feminist Willpower as a Catalyst for Transformation

Despite the immense difficulties, Palestinian feminist will remain a powerful engine of transformation. Success hinges on converting discourse into practice—through partnerships that recognize that women’s liberation is not a luxury, but a prerequisite for national liberation and the realization of a just peace.