By
Alycia O'Dell

The Israeli-Palestine Conflict dates back to the Arab-Israeli War in 1948, resulting in the displacement of over 750,000 Palestinians. The region has since remained in a prolonged state of conflict. On October 7, 2023, Islamic militant group Hamas escalated the violence by attacking Israel. The ensuing and ongoing war has led to a humanitarian crisis in Israel and the Palestinian territories of Gaza and the West Bank. So, we had to ask: What are the best charities impacting Palestine?

The best charities impacting Palestine are Anera and Direct Relief. Charities like World Vision and Save the Children focus on providing relief to the most innocent victims of war; children. 

Whether you want to help protect the mental health of those living through the crisis, ensure all children have access to clean drinking water, or deliver medical aid to those in desperate need, there is a charity for you. Keep reading to learn more about what the best charities impacting Palestine are all about, how they work, and what your best way would be to donate.

Here’s What All the Best Charities Impacting Palestine Have in Common

The charities on this list were chosen based on their mission, impact, transparency ratings, and achievements.

They operate internationally, utilizing the global community to rally for humanitarian aid.

Many of these charities fight to make sure that civilians have access to basic needs like food, water, and sanitation, while others focus on helping refugees rebuild their lives.

Some provide emergency medical aid to victims of war, while others ensure that those with chronic illnesses are still able to access the care they need.

Yet, they all share a common goal; to provide humanitarian aid to the people of Israel and Palestine.

These Are the 9 Best Charities Impacting Palestine in 2024

Below are our favorite charities impacting Palestine (you can click on their link to directly jump to their section in this article):

(At the end of this article we’ll also share our six-step approach on how you can select the best charity to support.)

Anera: Hope for Victims of Regional Conflict 

Charity Navigator gives Anera a 4-star rating. GuideStar gives the charity a Platinum Seal of Transparency. 

“Where hope finds a way.”

Anera

Anera, which has no political or religious affiliation, works with partners in Palestine, Lebanon, and Jordan to provide emergency relief as well as long-term solutions to humanitarian crises. They are currently working to respond to the immediate needs of refugees displaced by the ongoing conflict. For example, they are distributing food baskets and hygiene kits to families living in shelters, and also ensuring that shelters are clean and properly maintained. Furthermore, they are providing health care out of mobile clinics, including professional treatments and medicine.

Since their inception, Anera has helped millions of vulnerable people in the Middle East to live with purpose and hope. For example, in 2022 alone, they delivered more than $100 million in sustainable development and relief programs to help communities confront ongoing challenges. In response to the current conflict, they have distributed over 4 million meals, 19,850 hygiene kits, and 607,963 medical kits to refugees living in shelters.

You can donate directly to Anera through their website, or choose to donate directly to their Palestine Emergency Fund. You can also support the charity by attending an event or by organizing a fundraiser.

Direct Relief: Medical Relief in Times of Crisis

Charity Navigator gives Direct Relief a 4-star rating. GuideStar gives the charity a Platinum Seal of Transparency. 

“Healthy People. Better World.”

Direct Relief

Direct Relief provides relief in humanitarian crises by equipping doctors and nurses with lifesaving medical resources. They are working with global agencies, like the World Health Organization and the International Organization for Migration to bring as much medical aid into conflict zones as possible. Furthermore, they are financially supporting their longstanding regional partners operating on the ground in conflict zones. For example, they approved a $100,000 emergency grant to Anera, an international nonprofit that provides humanitarian assistance in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan, and Lebanon.

Since their founding, Direct Relief has provided billions of dollars worth of medical support to people in crisis. For example, in 2022 alone, they distributed over $2 billion in total aid across 97 countries around the world. In addition to providing medical kits containing essential medicines and other supplies, they have pledged $200,000 grants each to humanitarian organizations throughout Israel, like United Hatzalah and Magen David Adom. 

You can donate to Direct Relief via their website. You can also support the charity by volunteering or participating in a Direct Relief Gaming fundraiser.

World Vision: Helping Children in the Crossfire

Charity Navigator gives World Vision a 4-star rating. GuideStar gives the charity a Platinum Seal of Transparency. 

“Pulling up the roots of poverty and planting the seeds of change.”

World Vision

World Vision is responding to the humanitarian crisis impacting Palestinians by supporting the most vital needs of local communities. For example, they are providing rapid emergency supplies to families who have lost their homes. As another example, they are creating safe spaces for community members to support each other by restoring spaces destroyed by conflict and constructing new ones. Furthermore, they are offering psychological services to help children and families process the emotional toll of war and lead the path toward healing.

Since their founding, World Vision has improved the lives of millions of children impacted by humanitarian crises. They have worked in Jerusalem, Gaza, and the West Bank since 1975, creating one of the most extensive community-based presences among organizations operating in the region. For example, in 2023, they helped more than 136,000 people in 150 villages across the West Bank.

You can donate to World Vision via their website, or donate directly to the Middle East Crisis Response. You can also support the charity by sponsoring a child.

Save the Children: Providing Resources to Save Lives

Charity Navigator gives Save the Children a 4-star rating. GuideStar gives the charity a Platinum Seal of Transparency. 

“All children deserve a healthy start in life.”

Save the Children

Save the Children is dedicated to ensuring children and families in Palestine have access to basic survival necessities, and helping them return to normal once violence has subsided. For example, as some organizations struggle to overcome barriers to delivering life-saving supplies across borders, Save the Children successfully delivered 45,000 water bottles to children and families in need. And, as aid is more easily rendered, they will continue to help children return to normal by rebuilding schools, distributing more essential supplies, and providing mental health and psychosocial support. 

Since their founding, Save the Children has changed the lives of over 1 billion children. They have provided aid for every major humanitarian crisis since World War I, helping 118 million children in 116 countries become healthier, safer, and better educated. Moreover, they have been providing essential services and support to Palestinian children impacted by ongoing conflict since 1953, and established a permanent presence in the region in 1973.

You can donate to Save the Children via their website. You can also support the charity by participating in a fundraiser, volunteering, or sponsoring a child.

Life for Relief and Development: Emergency Relief, Long-Term Solutions

Charity Navigator gives Life for Relief and Development a 4-star rating. GuideStar gives the charity a Platinum Seal of Transparency. 

“Where there is life, there is hope.”

Life for Relief and Development

Life for Relief and Development provides emergency aid to people experiencing humanitarian crises, regardless of race, religion, or cultural background. Their Emergency Relief Program provides life-saving supplies to victims of emergencies like the current humanitarian crisis in Israel and Palestine. For example, they are distributing necessities like hot meals, hygiene packages, and warm blankets, to civilians in Gaza. The charity also helps communities rebuild through programs such as Refugee Assistance, Community Development, and Healthcare.

Since their founding, Life for Relief and Development has distributed over $550 million in humanitarian services, impacting more than 20 million people in 55 countries around the world. They have been providing aid to the people of Gaza since 1997, including installing over 500 1,000-liter water tanks to increase the availability of clean water. In 2023, they distributed 3,333 hot meals, 1,100 warm blankets, and 230 hygiene packages to families struggling through the conflict.

You can donate directly to Life for Relief and Development through their website. You can also support the charity’s mission by volunteering or fundraising.

NATAL: Supporting the Mental Health of Traumatized Citizens

Charity Navigator gives American Friends of NATAL a 3-star rating. GuideStar gives the charity a Bronze Seal of Transparency. 

“Our hearts need an Iron Dome.”

NATAL

NATAL provides multidisciplinary mental health treatment to direct and indirect victims of war and terror-related trauma in Israel, regardless of religion or political affiliation. Their programs advance the resiliency of Israeli society through direct treatment, prevention, public awareness, and research. For example, their Clinical Unit provides both individual and group therapy to traumatized individuals. In addition, their Community Outreach Unit provides special programming throughout Israel to equip the population with skills to remain resilient in national emergencies. Furthermore, their Trauma Advocacy and Public Relations Unit works to normalize seeking psychological assistance for trauma.

Since their founding, NATAL’s services have reached more than 450,000 children and adults across Israel. In 2022, a wave of terror attacks in Israel led to a 340% increase in calls to NATAL’s Helpline, indicating that an even greater increase will result from the ongoing Israel-Hamas War. And, Direct Relief has pledged a $200,000 grant to help NATAL treat victims of trauma during and after the ongoing conflict.

You can donate directly to NATAL through their website. You can also support the charity’s mission by attending training or utilizing their educational materials.

Doctors Without Borders: Real Doctors in Real Conflict Zones

Charity Navigator gives Doctors Without Borders a 4-star rating. GuideStar gives the charity a Platinum Seal of Transparency. 

“Medical care where it is needed most.”

Doctors Without Borders

Doctors Without Borders provides emergency medical and humanitarian aid to people who need it most, including civilians in armed conflict zones like Palestine. As the situation becomes unsafe for foreign medical staff in Gaza, they are utilizing local personnel to identify and care for people requiring life-saving intervention. And, they have a new team of international staff, including a specialized medical team, ready to provide humanitarian and medical support as soon as they can safely enter the conflict zone. Furthermore, they are donating life-saving supplies and medical equipment as quickly as possible.

Since their founding, Doctors Without Borders has helped tens of millions of people in over 70 countries access high-quality health care regardless of race, religion, creed, or political affiliation. They have been providing emergency medical and psychological services in Palestine since 1989, and have ramped up their efforts during the current crisis. For example, they donated 26 tons of medical equipment to support struggling hospitals. And, in 1999, they were awarded a Nobel Peace Prize for the non-discriminatory nature of their work.

You can donate directly to Doctors Without Borders through their website. You can also support the charity by attending an event or by organizing a fundraiser.

UNICEF: For Every Child in Danger

Charity Navigator gives UNICEF a 3-star rating. GuideStar gives the charity a Gold Seal of Transparency. 

“For every child in danger.”

UNICEF

UNICEF works to end suffering for all children in need by delivering immediate life-saving humanitarian aid to conflict-affected and displaced children and families. For example, they are continuously delivering medical supplies, fuel, and water, as well as cash support to families in need. Furthermore, UNICEF ensures that children and families will have continued support post-conflict by strengthening the links between humanitarian action and development work. For example, upgrading water and sanitation systems to meet the immediate and long-term needs of vulnerable households.

Since their founding, UNICEF has changed the lives of millions of vulnerable children and families, including those in Palestine. They have been a leader in responding to the current humanitarian crisis, distributing as many essential supplies as safely possible. For example, they have distributed 4,500 emergency family kits, resulting in the production of clean water for over 1 million people. Furthermore, they have delivered enough medicines and medical supplies to serve at least three hospitals in Gaza for one week, benefitting an estimated 94,000 people.

You can donate to UNICEF through their website, or choose to donate directly to efforts in Palestine. You can also support the charity by purchasing items from their online shop or by volunteering.

Mercy Without Limits: Aid for the Innocent

Charity Navigator gives Mercy Without Limits a 4-star rating. GuideStar gives the charity a Platinum Seal of Transparency. 

“Every child deserves an opportunity.”

Mercy Without Limits

Mercy Without Limits is helping the people of Palestine by fundraising to provide items essential to survival, like emergency medical supplies, food, and hygiene kits. Their initiatives focus on four areas of need to help orphans, widows, and refugees thrive: nourishment, shelter, health, and education. For example, their Food Security Program provides meals to nourish growing bodies, while their Health Care Program ensures access to quality healthcare for orphans and contributes to improvements to healthcare systems. Plus, they help widows access the tools they need to keep their families together, such as mental health care and vocational training.

Since their founding, Mercy Without Limits has helped enrich the lives of thousands of vulnerable people, including Palestinians. For example, in 2022 they distributed 11,045 food baskets to 10,469 families in need. In the same year, they paved three roads near existing refugee camps, benefitting over 3,000 people. And, they provided cash assistance to 126 families to help pay for basic needs such as medical check-ups and follow-up care.

You can donate directly to Mercy Without Limits through their website, or donate directly to their efforts in Palestine. You can also support the charity by sponsoring a child or by volunteering.

How Can You Select the Best Charities to Support?

The charities on the list are, we deem, the best charities impacting Palestine. However, you may have a particular charity you want to support. Let’s look at what you can do to ensure your contribution has the most significant impact.

• Check out the charity website. Charities that are worthy of your donations are transparent in their mission and their figures. Familiarize yourself with their history, mission, and values. Their website usually is the best place to start.
• Identify the charity’s mission. Without a goal, the charity is likely to fail. If the charity’s mission isn’t clear, it’s probably worth looking for a charity that does have a clear mission. 
• Check if the charity has measurable goals. An effective charity has clear goals. You want to know your donation will help the charity reach its goals. But if it doesn’t have targets, it’s likely to fail or squander your gift. The charity should be able to account for its spending and supply evidence of the work they do.
• Assess the successes or goals the charity has achieved. You wouldn’t invest in a business if it kept missing its targets. In the same way, charities are like this too. If no one is assessing a charity’s progress in reaching its targets, the chances are they’re not making a substantial positive change.
• Check the charity’s financials and stats. Trustworthy organizations will publish financial statements and reports each year. Some might be exempt from having to do so, but they should be able to provide them to public members who are interested in donating.
• Locate sources who work with or benefit from the charity. Word of mouth and first-hand experience of a charity’s work lets you know the charity’s quality. If you’re able to do so, check out the charity for yourself or speak to someone familiar with it. This way, your donation will go to the right place. 

How Can You Best Support These Charities?

After you’ve made your decision, it’s time for you to decide on how you’d like to help the charities you’ve chosen. Check how you can help – each charity runs specific programs that have unique aims. Find out what the aim of such programs is and whether they are right for you. 

Here are a few ways you can help your chosen charity:

• Donate money. You can find donation pages on the websites of most charities. Your donation can be a one-time payment, or you can set it to be deducted regularly at different intervals. You can mostly pay via credit card, but some charities also take PayPal or Bitcoin payments.
• Buy their official merchandise. Charities can also raise money by selling merchandise. So, you can support them by buying the mugs, shirts, caps, pens, pencils, and any other such items they may be selling. Ideally, you should buy as much as you can to share and spread the word about the charity’s activities.
• Engage in volunteer work. As you’ve seen from our descriptions above, some charities engage in many local and grassroots programs. You can help by taking on and organizing the program in your local area.
• Help their fundraising efforts. You can spread the word about the charity in your workplace, school, church, etc., and hold creative fundraising drives on social media or offline within your small circles.
• Share their stories. Most charities have compelling stories that you can share with your audience to attract more people to the cause.

Final Thoughts

Now it is up to you to select the charity that resonates most with you. And whichever charity you end up choosing and contributing to, we are sure that they will immensely appreciate your support. Hopefully, the information within this article has made this selection process a bit easier for you to support charities dedicated to impacting Palestine—based on the causes that matter most to you.

Stay impactful,

PS: Finally, I want to leave you with a thought-provoking TED talk from Dan Pallotta, a leading philanthropic activist and fundraiser, about what is wrong with the way we think about charities – and what we can do about it:

Sources

• Center for Preventive Action: Global Conflict Tracker: Israel-Palestine
• Anera: Home
• Charity Navigator: Anera
• GuideStar: Anera
• Anera: Gaza and West Bank Response Log
• Anera: 2022 Annual Report
• Anera: Donate
• Anera: Palestine Emergency Fund
• Anera: How to Help
• Direct Relief: Home
• Charity Navigator: Direct Relief
• GuideStar: Direct Relief
• Direct Relief: Humanitarian Response to Israel-Hamas War
• Anera: Home
• Direct Relief: 2022 Annual Report
• United Hatzalah: Home
• Magen David Adom: Home
• Direct Relief: Donate
• Direct Relief: Volunteer
• Direct Relief: Gaming
• World Vision: Our History
• Forbes: World Vision
• Charity Navigator: World Vision
• GuideStar: World Vision
• World Vision: Middle East Crisis Response
• World Vision: Economic Empowerment
• World Vision: 2021 Annual Report
• World Vision: Donate
• World Vision: Funa a Microloan
• World Vision: Sponsor a Child
• Save the Children: Home
• Save the Children: About Us
• Charity Navigator: Save the Children
• GuideStar: Save the Children
• Save the Children: Where We Work: West Bank and Gaza
• Save the Children: School Health and Nutrition
• Save the Children: Hunger and Livelihoods
• Save the Children: Education
• Save the Children: Protection
• Save the Children: Health
• Save the Children: What We Do: Emergency Response
• Save the Children: 2021 Annual Report
• Wikipedia: Child Sponsorship
• Save the Children: Donate
• Save the Children: Fundraise
• Save the Children: Volunteer
• Life for Relief and Development: Home
• Charity Navigator: Life for Relief and Development
• GuideStar: Life for Relief and Development
• Life for Relief and Development: Emergency Relief Fund
• Life for Relief and Development: Refugee
• Life for Relief and Development: Community Development
• Life for Relief and Development: Health
• LinkedIn: Life for Relief and Development
• Life for Relief and Development: About
• Life for Relief and Development: Gaza Projects
• Life for Relief and Development: Gaza Emergency Relief
• Life for Relief and Development: Volunteer
• Life for Relief and Development: Fundraising
• NATAL: Home
• Charity Navigator: US Friends of NATAL
• GuideStar: US Friends of Natal
• NATAL: Clinical Unit
• NATAL: Community Outreach Unit
• NATAL: Trauma Advocacy and Public Relations Unit
• NATAL: 2022 Annual Report
• NATAL: Helpline
• Direct Relief: Israel Humanitarian Response
• NATAL: Donate
• NATAL: NATAL USA
• Doctors Without Borders: Home
• Charity Navigator: Doctors Without Borders
• GuideStar: Doctors Without Borders
• Doctors Without Borders: Our Response to the Israel-Gaza War
• Doctors Without Borders: History
• Doctors Without Borders: Where We Work: Palestine
• Doctors Without Borders: Donate
• Doctors Without Borders: Events
• Doctors Without Borders: Fundraise
• UNICEF: Home
• UNICEF: About Us
• Charity Navigator: UNICEF
• GuideStar: UNICEF
• UNICEF: Children In Gaza Need Lifesaving Support
• UNICEF: Child Poverty
• End Childhood Poverty: Home
• UNICEF: Health
• UNICEF: Nutrition
• UNICEF: Education
• UNICEF USA: Children Trapped in Gaza
• UNICEF USA: For Every Child, Peace
• UNICEF: 2021 Annual Report
• UNICEF: Ending Child Poverty
• UNICEF: Donate
• UNICEF: Shop
• UNICEF: Volunteer
• Mercy Without Limits: Home
• Charity Navigator: Mercy Without Limits
• GuideStar: Mercy Without Limits
• Mercy Without Limits: Food Security
• Mercy Without Limits: Healthcare
• Mercy Without Limits: Widow Program
• Mercy Without Limits: 2022 Annual Report
• Mercy Without Limits: Donations
• Mercy Without Limits: Gaza Palestine Appeal
• Mercy Without Limits: Sponsor a Child
• Mercy Without Limits: Volunteering and Internship