The conflict in Gaza remains highly unstable, with no ceasefire in place and a deepening humanitarian crisis. What began as a Haomas-led attack in October 2023 has escalated into a sustained Israeli military campaign, resulting in over 50,000 Palestinian deaths, more than 111,900 injured, and the displacement of 1.9 million people (around 90% of the population). Entire neighbourhoods have been flattened, and many families have been displaced up to ten times.
For insurers, assistance providers, and security teams, this complex and volatile environment presents major challenges in delivering support, maintaining access, and managing operational risk.
Security Snapshot- Over 70% of Gaza's infrastructure is damaged or destroyed
- 173+ journalists and media workers have been killed
- Humanitarian access remains limited, with no safe corridors and only temporary aid pauses
- Communications between NGOs and Israeli soldiers on the ground are unreliable, raising safety concerns for field teams
- In the West Bank, there have been 1,860 settler-related attacks, and 870 Palestinian deaths, including 177 children, since October 2023
- Tensions persist along Israel's northern border with Lebanon, raising the risk of re-escalation with Hezbollah
- Within Israel, internal political pressure and a fatigued military complicate crisis response capacity
The scale and pace of this conflict have outstripped most insurance policies. Many major travel insurers now exclude Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories altogether. For Gaza in particular, evacuation is functionally impossible without high-level diplomatic or military coordination.
Specialist insurers remain active but are operating on highly selective, day-by-day terms. Underwriting is typically limited to organisations with:
- Strong pre-travel risk management
- Verified local partners
- Established contingency planning
One-off trips into Gaza are nearly uninsurable. Access to the West Bank and surrounding areas is comparatively more feasible.
K&R exposure has also evolved. Beyond traditional kidnapping threats, insurers and assistance firms are increasingly concerned about politically motivated detentions, harassment by local actors, and obstruction by armed groups or authorities.
Some insurers are adapting, offering tailored packages that integrate crisis response, intelligence, and operational support. But with high premiums, limited capacity, and cautious underwriters, the barrier to entry remains high.
Strategic TakeawayThis conflict is a real-time example of why traditional, static models of travel and crisis insurance no longer work in high-risk zones. The market is shifting toward intelligence-led, operationally embedded solutions that combine flexible coverage with real-time response.
For organisations operating in or around Gaza, insurance alone is not enough, success depends on how well risk, access, and assistance strategies are aligned from the outset.
