Homosexuality in Palestine is considered a taboo subject, with LGBTQ people often experiencing persecution and violence. There is a significant legal divide between the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, with the former having more progressive laws and the latter having more conservative laws. Homosexual activity is legal in the West Bank but is punishable by up to 10 years in Gaza, although enforcement is difficult so arrests are believed to be rare. Dec 29, 2024 · Legal Status: Homosexuality is not explicitly criminalized in the West Bank under Jordanian Penal Code No. 16 of 1960. Discrimination: Despite the absence of specific anti-LGBTI laws, there are no legal protections against discrimination or violence based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Some human rights groups, including Military Court Watch, claimed the country’s detention of the majority of convicted Palestinians from the West Bank or Gaza in prisons inside Israel was a violation of the Fourth Geneva Convention. Five places in the region do not criminalise same-sex relations: Bahrain, Israel, Jordan, the West Bank and Turkey. Same-sex marriage is not recognised in the region. Israel allows civil partnerships. Except for Israel, there are no constitutional, employment, or other protections for LGBT+ people. In August 2019, the Palestinian National Authority announced that LGBT groups were forbidden to meet in the West Bank on the grounds that they are "harmful to the higher values and ideals of Palestinian society". The legal situation for LGBTI persons differs between the West Bank including East Jerusalem and the Ga-za strip. The rule of law is absent in both territories due to the Israeli occupation. In 2019, Palestinian police banned LGBTIQ groups from hosting events and activities in the West Bank, although this decision was later rescinded due to backlash. There have been reports of violence and discrimination against LGBTIQ people in recent years. Aug 20, 2019 · Homosexuality is illegal

in the Gaza Strip but not in the West Bank. Many LGBTQ Palestinians flee the territories for Israel in hopes of finding a safe haven. Aug 19, 2019 · The Palestinian Authority has banned all LGBT+ groups from carrying out activities in the West Bank. The ban came after Al-Qaws, a group for sexual and gender diversity that supports LGBT+ Palestinians, planned to hold a meeting for members at the end of August.