Overview
The State of Palestine is a country located in the Southern Levant region of West Asia. It is composed of two geographically separate territories—the West Bank, which includes East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip—both of which are currently occupied by Israel. Collectively, these areas are referred to as the Palestinian territories, or the occupied Palestinian territory. The country has a total land area of approximately 6,020 square kilometers (2,320 square miles) and a population exceeding five million people.
Geography and Borders
Palestine shares the vast majority of its borders with Israel. In addition, the West Bank borders Jordan to the east, while the Gaza Strip borders Egypt to the southwest. This unusual configuration—two separate territories divided by Israeli land—shapes much of the country's political, economic, and social realities, as movement between the West Bank and Gaza Strip typically requires passing through or around Israeli-controlled territory.
- West Bank: Includes East Jerusalem and borders Jordan to the east.
- Gaza Strip: A narrow coastal territory bordering Egypt to the southwest.
- Total land area: Approximately 6,020 square kilometers (2,320 sq mi).
Capital and Major Cities
Jerusalem is the proclaimed capital of the State of Palestine, though the city remains a focal point of dispute in the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Due to this contested status, Ramallah, located in the West Bank, functions as the de facto administrative center of the Palestinian government. Prior to Israel's forced evacuations in 2023, Gaza City was the largest city in the Palestinian territories, serving as a major population and economic hub within the Gaza Strip.
Population
The population of the Palestinian territories exceeds five million people, distributed across the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. These communities maintain distinct social and economic conditions shaped by decades of occupation, restricted movement, and differing levels of infrastructure development.
Political Status
The State of Palestine is recognized by a majority of United Nations member states, though it continues to face significant challenges to full international recognition and sovereignty. Both the West Bank and the Gaza Strip remain under Israeli occupation, a situation that has profoundly influenced the political, humanitarian, and developmental landscape of the territories for decades.