Life in the West Bank

Niels Gärtner is a consultant for Herrnhuter Missionshilfe and chairman of the Förderverein ‘Starmountain’. In January 2026, he visited the rehabilitation centre for children and young people with intellectual disabilities in Sternberg, located north of Ramallah.

What is life like in the West Bank now? I set off for Israel/Palestine at the beginning of January 2026 with this big question in mind. I actually know the region quite well. I have been travelling regularly in the northern West Bank for 10 years, mostly to Starmountain. Starmountain is the rehabilitation centre of the worldwide Moravian Church for children and young people with intellectual or multiple disabilities. I am responsible for ecumenical contacts and Christian identity there.

Until now, I had been able to assess the situation there well, having travelled extensively in Ramallah and Jerusalem. I knew what life was like for many people on the Palestinian side. But then came the Hamas attack on Israel and the war in Gaza. And a great deal has changed in the West Bank too. But what?

During my last visit in May 2024, some things still seemed quite normal, apart from the catastrophic economic situation. The loss of jobs in Israel and the fact that the autonomous authority was no longer receiving any funds meant that there was great economic hardship. No income, no money for food, no going out, no investments. Many restaurants had closed, as had many shops. But there was still some life on the streets: people drove to the university in Birzeit, people went shopping, craftsmen continued to build houses.

In January 2026, the economic situation had not changed, but rather deteriorated. But the security situation had deteriorated enormously. While at the beginning of the Gaza war, the Israeli military mainly targeted refugee camps where extremists were suspected, such as in Jenin, military control had spread throughout the West Bank. Many additional checkpoints have been reactivated or newly constructed. They severely restrict mobility and make travel within the West Bank unpredictable.

In addition, there are the open acts of violence committed by extremist Jewish settlers who attack Palestinians, destroy fields and gardens, steal livestock or set cars on fire. This often happens under the eyes of the Israeli military and is not prosecuted.

‘What can we do? We can't do anything! We just have to put up with it. This is our home’, says one of Starmountain's employees, adding, ‘These people want to drive us off our land’. Another employee says, ‘I live on the outskirts of Ramallah and can drive to work at Starmountain every day. There are no roadblocks here. And otherwise, life is relatively normal.’

Starmountain itself keeps its doors open all the time. Every day, teachers, children and young people come to the green hill of Starmountain. They have something like everyday life, like routine, which is very important for children and young people with intellectual disabilities. When I see how much affection and joy the staff radiate, giving hope to others, I often ask myself: could I do that, given the political situation? I have great respect for people who have to bear so much personally and yet are able to bring so much joy and hope.

Life in the West Bank is not the same everywhere and can vary greatly depending on the region. The Christian-influenced cities south of Jerusalem (Bethlehem, Bet Jala, Bet Sahour) are located directly on the wall and are therefore often affected by conflicts between border guards and Palestinians. Ramallah and the neighbouring towns and villages (north of Jerusalem) are densely populated, economically prosperous and have so far been little affected by Israeli violence. I am glad that Starmountain is located in this relatively peaceful region.

The situation is different in Nablus or Jenin. A former colleague wrote to me from Nablus: ‘We don't dare go out on the streets. We only go out when we have to, such as to go shopping. Something happens every day. When will this injustice end?’ It is precisely the rural regions and villages, which are increasingly surrounded by Jewish settlements, that are experiencing the most violence.

Life in the West Bank – between a certain normality and brutal violence, but also an unpredictable legal vacuum. In the evening, many people are just glad to have survived another day.

With my German passport, I am able to leave a few days later without any problems. But I take the questions with me: how will things continue there? What kind of life is this under such conditions? How can the suffering of the people be stopped?

Peace and justice belong together – I know that from the Bible. A lawless area without justice, such as the West Bank is at present, cannot achieve peace.

Br Niels Gärtner