In the West Bank, LGBTQ+ people live under constant threat despite the absence of explicit criminalization of same-sex relations. Authorities have harassed, detained, and intimidated LGBTQ+ activists using vague “morality” or “public order” accusations. In 2019, Palestinian police publicly threatened arrests over LGBTQ+ organizing, triggering a wave of incitement and threats against activists. Many LGBTQ+ Palestinians report family violence, coercion, and blackmail, often combined with fear of approaching police, who may themselves become a source of persecution.

In Gaza, LGBTQ+ people face direct criminalization and extreme danger. Same-sex relations are punishable by imprisonment, and Hamas authorities have detained and abused individuals accused of “immorality.” Exposure can result in arrest, torture, or violent retaliation by family members. Open LGBTQ+ existence is effectively impossible: people are forced into secrecy, forced marriages, or flight. Several documented cases show that being identified as gay or transgender can be life-threatening, with no legal protection and no safe avenues for escape.

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