The Role of Government Policies in Combating Poverty Rates as One of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals in Palestine

Abstract

The study aimed to evaluate the role of government policies in reducing poverty in Palestine, testing their effectiveness and adequacy, and assessing the challenges associated with their implementation. The study also evaluated the satisfaction of poor families with government programs directed at them. To achieve the objectives of the study, the study followed the descriptive analytical approach, through the use of the quantitative approach, where a questionnaire was distributed to 447 poor families in the West Bank. The qualitative method was developed to study the content of all Palestinian government policies followed to reduce poverty. The results showed a decrease in the confidence of poor families in the adequacy and effectiveness of government policies used to combat poverty, in light of the rise in poverty rates (74.3% in 2024). Accordingly, the study recommends the need to enhance integration between social protection policies and economic development by adopting a comprehensive, innovative, and visionary approach that integrates the provision of resources and sustainable economic empowerment programs to achieve sustainable development goals better.

1. Introduction

Poverty is a complex social, economic, and psychological phenomenon; it encompasses not only low income and lack of resources but also social exclusion and limited access to fundamental rights [1,2]. Poverty is often accompanied by additional challenges such as hunger, illness, unemployment, and even violence and extremism, all of which hinder socioeconomic development in affected areas [3,4]. Poverty remains a pressing global and local concern. Despite national and international efforts to alleviate it, poverty rates continue to rise in several developing regions, obstructing sustainable economic growth and development [5,6]. For this reason, eradicating poverty has been established as a top global priority, reflected in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with SDG 1 aiming to eliminate poverty in all its forms everywhere by 2030 [7]. Poverty should not be understood solely as a financial condition, but rather as a multidimensional deprivation of opportunities and capabilities [8]. In this context, government policies are essential tools for enabling people and improving socioeconomic conditions. Effective policies must combine income support, institutional strengthening, and strategic planning tailored to local realities to produce sustainable change [9].

Poverty represents one of the maximum urgent economic and social challenges facing the Palestinian people. Poverty in Palestine is a persistent difficulty that keeps getting worse over time, especially below the continued Israeli occupation and its ensuing monetary and social repercussions [10]. Data suggests that poverty costs in Palestine have multiplied substantially in recent years, growing from 25.8% in 2011 to 29.2% in 2017, at the same time as intense poverty reached 16.8% in the same year, up from 12.9% in 2011 [11]. Despite governmental efforts, the persistence of Israeli guidelines keeps deepening poverty and marginalizes the marginalized segments of society.

Following the latest struggle in the Gaza Strip, poverty costs have sharply multiplied. Projections imply that the poverty rate in Palestine will reach 74.3% in 2024. Moreover, the continued Israeli blockade has contributed to a 35.1% contraction in GDP and an upward push in unemployment to 49.9%. These alarming figures replicate the giant struggling persevered with the aid of the Palestinian people, underscoring the pressing need to observe the effectiveness of presidency guidelines in preventing poverty and to discover the important thing elements hindering the development of living situations and the development of sustainable development [12].

In this context, the efforts of the Palestinian authorities to fight poverty align with the National Policy Agenda, countrywide consensus, Palestine’s worldwide commitments to agreements and treaties, and the 2030 SDGs—mainly Goal 1. Government guidelines are seeking to sell social justice with the aid of presenting social safety for the maximum marginalized groups, thereby contributing to the reduction of social and monetary disparities [13]. Moreover, the Palestinian authorities released the National Strategy for Combating Multidimensional Poverty (2023–2030) as a step that affirms its dedication to accomplishing the SDGs.

This study, therefore, seeks to examine the role of government policies in reducing poverty rates in Palestine as part of the implementation of the 2030 SDGs. It focuses on evaluating the effectiveness and adequacy of governmental programs and regulations, as well as identifying the primary structural and institutional barriers hindering the implementation of anti-poverty measures. The study will answer the following sub-questions:

• What are the government policies in combating poverty rates as one of the 2030 SDGs in Palestine?
• How effective are government policies in combating poverty rates as one of the 2030 SDGs in Palestine?
• How adequate are government policies in addressing poverty rates as one of the 2030 SDGs in Palestine?
• To what extent do government programs (such as job creation, healthcare coverage, and social programs) contribute to reducing poverty rates as part of the 2030 SDGs?
• What are the main challenges facing government policies in combating poverty rates as part of the 2030 SDGs in Palestine?

Accordingly, the following hypotheses will be tested. (H1): There are no statistically significant differences at the significance level (α ≥ 0.05) in the perceived effectiveness of government policies in combating poverty rates as one of the Sustainable Development Goals, attributed to demographic variables (income level, saving ability, employment status, type of housing). (H2): There are no statistically significant differences at the significance level (α ≥ 0.05) in the perceived adequacy of government policies in combating poverty rates as one of the Sustainable Development Goals, attributed to demographic variables (income level, saving ability, employment status, type of housing). (H3): There are no statistically significant differences at the significance level (α ≥ 0.05) in the perceived contribution of government programs to combating poverty rates as one of the Sustainable Development Goals, attributed to demographic variables (income level, saving ability, employment status, type of housing).

2. Literature Review

Government policies have become central in addressing poverty, particularly in developing countries, through national strategies focused on governance, social protection, education, and local empowerment, in line with SDG1 [14]. Yet, literature continues to debate their effectiveness, noting that poverty stems not only from poor planning but also from structural inequalities such as wealth concentration and tax imbalances [9,15].

Scholars argue that effective poverty reduction requires integrated social, economic, and environmental policies [16]. Research supports the notion that improving access to education, healthcare, and employment for vulnerable groups through comprehensive assistance programs leads to better poverty outcomes [17,18]. Studies on governance and social innovation further emphasize the importance of coordination and innovative solutions to poverty, especially in developing countries where weak administrative systems hinder progress [14,19,20].

Investment in human capital through education and vocational training is widely regarded as essential for reducing unemployment and poverty [21]. Additionally, promoting access to basic services and sustainable jobs is fundamental to development [22]. Social support mechanisms such as subsidies and community programs are also effective, particularly during economic shocks [23]. However, weak governance and lack of sustained planning continue to challenge policy impact in many contexts [24].

In Palestine, studies highlight the compounded challenges facing government efforts due to Israeli occupation and financial constraints. Poverty rates vary across regions, with Gaza experiencing deeper poverty due to political and economic instability [25]. The limited fiscal capacity of the Palestinian Authority further weakens poverty programs, as seen in Jenin, where 79% of eligible individuals were excluded from government assistance [26].

The current study builds on this literature by examining both the effectiveness and adequacy of anti-poverty policies in Palestine. It distinguishes itself by employing a dual-method approach (content analysis and questionnaire), addressing gaps identified in prior research. Furthermore, it offers a practical policy framework that may serve as a reference for future studies. By focusing on underexplored variables in the Palestinian context, this research contributes to closing empirical gaps and enhancing understanding of poverty reduction mechanisms suited to fragile environments.

3. Theoretical Framework

The trouble of poverty is taken into consideration a worldwide social phenomenon that exists in all countries; however, its severity varies depending on its level and degree [27]. This phenomenon additionally critically restricts sustainable and financial improvement plans, particularly in regions where it suffers substantially from poverty [2]. Below, we evaluate the theoretical framework, inclusive of the idea of poverty and the authorities’ techniques to lessen it. The concept of poverty has advanced from the conventional awareness primarily based on loss of earnings to a broader idea that consists of a couple of dimensions of human deprivation [28]. Accordingly, poverty nowadays is described as the inability to stay with dignity, taking into consideration both cloth and non-cloth aspects [29].

To study the relationship between government policies and their role in reducing poverty rates, it was necessary to address several theoretical schools to reveal this relationship specifically. From a structural perspective, poverty is not considered to result only from individual shortcomings, while it goes beyond that, as it stems from methodological inequality that is rooted in the structure [30,31,32]. Therefore, according to this perspective, governments are considered the main effective engine in redistributing wealth. Regulating markets, monitoring, and following up on any institutional failures that result in perpetuating the phenomenon of poverty [33]. Hence, what was mentioned is largely consistent with the multidimensional nature of poverty in the State of Palestine, as the difficult political factors that the State of Palestine is going through, as it is under occupation, and the resulting difficult economic, historical, and social factors have a significant impact on increasing poverty rates. On the contrary, the neoliberal school focuses on the contribution of market mechanisms and regulation to reducing poverty, and is also dominated by the idea of reducing the role of the government in intervening to reduce the phenomenon of poverty, deregulation, and privatization of services [34]. However, this approach has faced many criticisms as a result of its disregard for structural barriers, especially in contexts that suffer from political restrictions, as is the case in the State of Palestine. As for the institutional perspective and orientation, it presents a middle vision. It highlights the importance of governments’ ability to reduce poverty, the quality of governance and its applications, and the importance of coordination between institutions in order to achieve poverty reduction [35,36]. This proposition suggests that the success of anti-poverty strategies depends not only on the content of the policies but also on the administrative and institutional structure needed to implement them.

4. Methodology

This study adopts an integrated mixed-methods approach, combining both quantitative and qualitative techniques within a descriptive analytical framework.

4.1. Quantitative Component: Survey Analysis

To analyze the perceptions of low-income households regarding the effectiveness of government policies, a structured questionnaire was developed and distributed to a sample of families across the West Bank. According to the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics and the Ministry of Social Development, there are approximately 78,200 low-income households in the West Bank. A convenience sampling method was employed to collect responses from 447 low-income households (while accounting for the large sample size and a 5% margin of error).

The questionnaire consisted of two sections: the first section included questions regarding demographic characteristics of households (e.g., type of housing, employment status, household size, income, and ability to save).

Table 1. Distribution of the Sample According to Demographic Variables.

Variable		Frequency	Percent
Housing	No permanent housing	59	13.2
	Shared housing with family	124	27.7
	Rented simple housing	35	7.8
	Owned simple housing	229	51.2
Ability to Save	Cannot save at all	135	30.2
	Can sometimes save with difficulty	210	47.0
	Can save regularly with difficulty	102	22.8
Employment Status	Unemployed	160	35.8
	Part-time job	101	22.6
	Full-time job with low wages	186	41.6
Average Monthly Income per Person	800 NIS or less per month	122	27.3
	800–1500 NIS per month	79	17.7
	1500–2000 NIS per month	99	22.1
	2000–2500 NIS per month	147	32.9
Household Size	1–3 members	72	16.1
	4–6 members	205	45.9
	6–9 members	170	38.0

presents the distribution of the study sample based on a set of demographic variables that reflect the social and economic characteristics of the Palestinian households surveyed. The information suggests that over half of the sample (51.2%) stay in easy owned housing, whilst 27.7% stay in shared housing with their families, and 13.2% don’t have any everlasting housing. This shows that a considerable part of families depend on risky or established housing solutions, reflecting susceptible financial potential and expanded family vulnerability through crises. Table 1 also shows that the ability to save is a key indicator of financial stability. The outcomes display that 30.2% of the respondents can’t make savings at all, and 47% can make savings from time to time and with difficulty. Furthermore, 35.8% of individuals are unemployed, 22.6% are in part-time jobs, and 41.6% work full-time but earn low wages. Regarding income. Table 1 shows that 44.9% of the patterns stay on a month-to-month earnings of much less than 1500 NIS according to person, which is a high percentage and displays confined buying strength and excessive levels of earnings poverty. Additionally, 27.3% earn much less than 800 NIS per month, which classifies them as dwelling in extreme poverty in line with local and global standards. Turning to household Size, medium-sized families (4–6 members) constitute 45.9% of the pattern, at the same time as 38% stay in large families of 6–9 members. This method indicates that more than 80% of the respondents stay in medium to large-sized families, which places extra strain on to be had assets and will increase the dependency burden within families.

The second section of the questionnaire includes 23 statements measuring the effectiveness of government policies (8 items), adequacy of government policies (6 items), and government poverty alleviation programs (9 items). Respondents rated each item using a 5-point Likert scale (1 = Strongly Disagree to 5 = Strongly Agree). The data were analyzed using SPSS (version 27) to calculate means, standard deviations, and conduct inferential tests, including ANOVA and correlation analysis. Internal consistency reliability of the questionnaire was confirmed with Cronbach’s alpha = 0.961, indicating excellent reliability.

Table 2. Likert Scale Key for Instrument Correction.

Rating	Likert Scale Interpretation (Five-Point Scale)
Weak–Very Low Degree	1.00–1.80
Acceptable–Low Degree	1.81–2.61
Good–Moderate Degree	2.62–3.42
Very Good–High Degree	3.43–4.23
Excellent–Very High Degree	4.24–5.00

Source: [37]

shows how the overall scores of the questionnaire items were assessed to answer the research questions.

4.2. Qualitative Component: Content Analysis

The study also conducted a qualitative content analysis of relevant Palestinian laws, policies, strategies, programs, and government reports related to poverty alleviation. These materials were sourced from official Palestinian government websites (e.g., the Ministry of Social Development), international organizations, and academic databases. The qualitative analysis aimed to map existing anti-poverty interventions in Palestine; identify policy gaps and inconsistencies, and understand the alignment of government efforts with SDG 1 targets.

5. Results

• Results of the first question: What are the government policies in combating poverty rates as one of the 2030 SDGs in Palestine?

The Palestinian Ministry of Social Development leads national efforts to combat poverty amid the ongoing Israeli occupation and its impacts. Recognizing that cash and food aid alone do not ensure sustainable poverty reduction, the Ministry has adopted a multidimensional approach addressing the root causes of poverty—such as deprivation, exclusion, and marginalization—to promote long-term resilience and a dignified life for vulnerable groups. This strategy involves coordination with partners and aligns with the National Policy Agenda, international commitments, and the 2030 SDGs [38]. Despite these efforts, government programs face major challenges in implementation due to the unique political and economic constraints in Palestine. In general, analysis of the content of Palestinian government policies shows that there are serious intentions to address poverty, based on relatively recent concepts, such as multidimensional poverty and socio-economic empowerment, but they face obstacles related to resources, the unstable political environment, and weak institutional coordination and integration between sectoral policies, which It limits its effectiveness and sustainability. Government strategies and challenges are summarized in

Table 3. Main Government Strategies to Reduce Poverty in Palestine.

Strategy	Responsible Government Body	Actual Implementation	Challenges	Expected Impact and Success Indicators	References
Creating Job Opportunities	Palestinian Ministry of Labor	Providing and creating paid vocational training and job opportunities through various initiatives, like the Palestinian Labor Market Compass	High unemployment rates reaching 51%, largely due to the forced dismissal of workers from the Green Line areas	Enhancing youth integration into the labor market and supporting them with professional skills to reduce unemployment and thus poverty	[39]
Improving Health Services	Palestinian Ministry of Health	Efforts to localize health services to reduce poverty	Shortage of medical equipment and medicines due to siege and import restrictions; limited health services; increasing medical referrals	Providing comprehensive free governmental healthcare through public hospitals, which reduces poverty	[40]
Free Education	Ministry of Education and Higher Education	Providing free or subsidized basic education to increase school and university enrollment	Financial crisis and lack of funding for educational infrastructure	Increasing enrollment rates in free primary and secondary education, especially among girls and rural children, thereby reducing poverty	[41,42,43]
Improving Infrastructure	Ministry of Public Works and Housing	Government initiatives to develop local governance bodies and improve services, including water, electricity, and communications	Financial crisis and lack of infrastructure funding	Providing essential infrastructure needs	[40]
Microfinance for Projects via Various Programs	Ministry of Economy	Providing small loans for micro and small enterprises	Not all project owners meet the required funding conditions	Providing income sources for poor families, reducing the poor segment in society	[44]
Social Programs and Cash Transfers	Ministry of Social Development	Monthly allowances disbursed to more than 31,000 families, totaling 11 million shekels	Funding shortages due to reduced external aid	Reducing poverty rates, increasing monthly income, and improving purchasing power, which reduces poverty	[45,46,47]
Food Security	Ministry of Agriculture	Efforts to achieve agricultural development and enhance food security through initiatives like loans for agricultural production projects	Weak marketing expertise, restrictions on agricultural lands and water due to occupation, and limited government financial resources for infrastructure development	Increasing household income, reducing import dependency, increasing agricultural production, and food security, thus reducing poverty	[48]

Source: Prepared by the researchers based on the referenced sources.

.

• Results of the second question: To what extent are government policies effective in combating poverty rates as one of the 2030 SDGs in Palestine?

To answer this question, percentages and arithmetic means were calculated for the Government Policy Effectiveness criterion at all levels as shown in

Table 4. Arithmetic Means and Standard Deviations for the Criterion of the Effectiveness of Government Policies at All Levels.

Item	Mean	Std. Deviation	Percent	Rating Level
Satisfaction with government assistance to low-income households through exempting poor families from taxes or part of them.	2.59	1.04	51.8%	Acceptable–Low Degree
Satisfaction with the social protection provided by the government to poor families, such as providing adequate housing to reduce poverty.	2.40	1.02	48.0%	Acceptable–Low Degree
Satisfaction with the government’s role in providing aid to poor families (e.g., food, clothing) to alleviate poverty.	2.42	1.08	48.4%	Acceptable–Low Degree
Satisfaction with the government’s employment and anti-unemployment programs provided to poor families to reduce poverty.	2.30	1.09	46.0%	Acceptable–Low Degree
Satisfaction with the vocational training programs provided by the government to empower poor families to reduce poverty.	2.48	1.09	49.6%	Acceptable–Low Degree
I feel that government cash assistance programs target the poorest and most in-need groups.	2.56	1.13	51.2%	Acceptable–Low Degree
Satisfaction with the government’s role in economically empowering the poor and enabling them to be self-reliant in accessing livelihoods.	2.38	1.04	47.6%	Acceptable–Low Degree
Satisfaction with the government’s role in providing free public education opportunities to members of society to reduce poverty.	2.80	1.18	56.0%	Good–Moderate Degree
Overall Score for the Criterion of Government Policy Effectiveness	2.49	1.08	49.8%	Acceptable–Low Degree

.

Table 4 shows that the overall evaluation of the effectiveness of government policies in combating poverty in Palestine falls within the “Acceptable–Low Degree” category. Most items recorded mean between 2.30 and 2.59, indicating limited satisfaction with support programs such as tax exemptions, social protection, and employment initiatives. The exception was the provision of free education opportunities, which received a higher rating (Good–Moderate Degree), reflecting a relative improvement in this area. This suggests a clear deficiency in the effectiveness of government policies, necessitating a reassessment and development of these programs to ensure better targeting of poor groups and greater impact in reducing poverty rates.

• Results of the third question: To what extent are government policies sufficient in combating poverty rates as one of the 2030 SDGs in Palestine?

Table 5. Arithmetic Means and Standard Deviations for the Criterion of Sufficiency of Government Policies at All Levels.

Item	Mean	Std. Deviation	Percent	Rating Level
Satisfaction with the government’s improvement of housing conditions for low-income individuals is sufficient to reduce poverty	2.49	1.05	49.8%	Acceptable–Low Degree
Satisfaction with the adequacy of training courses provided by the government to empower the poor in society to reduce poverty	2.43	1.03	48.6%	Acceptable–Low Degree
Satisfaction with the government’s role in providing zero-interest loans and grants to poor families for economic projects is sufficient	2.55	0.97	51.0%	Acceptable–Low Degree
Satisfaction with the government’s role in providing adequate health insurance for low-income individuals	2.80	1.02	56.0%	Good–Moderate Degree
I feel that cash assistance programs cover a sufficient number of poor families	2.33	0.90	46.6%	Acceptable–Low Degree
I feel that government support programs fully cover the needs of poor families	2.26	0.95	45.2%	Acceptable–Low Degree
Overall Score for the Criterion of Sufficiency of Government Policies	2.47	0.98	49.4%	Acceptable–Low Degree

reveals that the sufficiency of government policies in combating poverty in Palestine is generally rated as “Acceptable–Low Degree,” with an overall mean score of 2.47 (49.4%). Most items, including housing improvements, training programs, cash assistance coverage, and support programs, received low to moderate ratings, indicating that these initiatives are perceived as insufficient to fully meet the needs of poor families. The only exception is the provision of adequate health insurance, which scored slightly higher at a “Good–Moderate Degree” level (2.80, 56%). This suggests that while some progress has been made, overall government efforts are still inadequate in scope and coverage, highlighting the need for enhanced resource allocation, program expansion, and better targeting to effectively address poverty in line with the 2030 SDGs.

• Results of the fourth question: To what extent do government programs (job creation, health coverage, social programs) contribute to combating poverty rates as one of the 2030 SDGs?

Table 6. Arithmetic Means and Standard Deviations for the Criterion of Government Programs at All Levels.

Item	Mean	Std. Deviation	Percent	Rating Level
Satisfaction with government efforts to provide temporary job opportunities (temporary employment projects) for poor families	2.44	1.06	48.8%	Acceptable–Low Degree
I believe the government provides vocational training (e.g., sewing and carpentry courses) that helps increase employment opportunities	2.40	0.87	48.0%	Acceptable–Low Degree
Satisfaction with government efforts to support small projects (providing microloans) for poor families	2.45	0.91	49.0%	Acceptable–Low Degree
Satisfaction with government efforts to provide free healthcare services (such as treatment in public hospitals) for poor families	2.83	1.09	56.6%	Good–Moderate Degree
I believe the government provides sufficient health awareness campaigns for poor groups	2.61	1.00	52.2%	Acceptable–Low Degree
I believe the government provides sufficient psychological support for poor groups	2.30	1.01	46.0%	Acceptable–Low Degree
I feel that government support programs (such as providing educational grants) contribute to improving educational opportunities for poor families	2.91	1.13	58.2%	Good–Moderate Degree
I feel that orphan support programs, such as financial and guidance support, contribute to their empowerment and reduce poverty	2.73	1.08	54.6%	Good–Moderate Degree
I feel the government provides sufficient workshops to empower poor women in the community	2.68	1.06	53.6%	Good–Moderate Degree

indicates that government programs aimed at combating poverty in Palestine receive mixed evaluations. Most initiatives related to temporary job creation, vocational training, microloan support, health awareness campaigns, and psychological support are rated as “Acceptable–Low Degree,” with scores ranging roughly between 2.30 and 2.61. However, programs providing free healthcare services, educational grants, orphan support, and workshops to empower poor women receive relatively higher ratings, falling into the “Good–Moderate Degree” category, with means between 2.68 and 2.91. This suggests that while some social and health programs show moderate effectiveness and positive impact, there is still considerable room for improvement in employment-related and psychological support initiatives.

• Results of the fifth question: What are the challenges facing government policies in combating poverty rates as one of the 2030 SDGs in Palestine?

Table 7. Arithmetic Means and Standard Deviations for the Criterion of Challenges at All Levels.

Item	Mean	Std. Deviation	Percent	Rating Level
I feel that the lack of financial resources (such as dependence on foreign aid) hinders the implementation of government poverty reduction policies	3.40	1.20	68.0%	Good–Moderate Degree
I believe that bureaucracy and administrative complexities (such as delays in aid disbursement) reduce the effectiveness of poverty reduction programs	3.21	1.15	64.2%	Good–Moderate Degree
I feel that the Israeli occupation and blockade (such as restrictions on the movement of goods and people) hinder the implementation of poverty reduction policies	3.32	1.19	66.4%	Good–Moderate Degree
I believe there is a lack of transparency in aid distribution (e.g., favoritism toward certain groups over others)	3.26	1.30	65.2%	Good–Moderate Degree
I feel that the absence of effective oversight (such as a lack of accountability mechanisms for corruption) reduces the effectiveness of poverty reduction programs	3.43	1.25	68.6%	Very Good–High Degree
I believe there is weak coordination between government institutions and the private sector to reduce poverty	3.31	1.16	66.2%	Good–Moderate Degree
Overall Score for the Criterion of Challenges	3.32	1.20	66.4%	Good–Moderate Degree

reveals that the challenges facing government policies in combating poverty in Palestine are perceived as significant and impactful. The overall score of 3.32 (66.4%) indicates a “Good–Moderate Degree” level of agreement among respondents regarding the obstacles hindering poverty reduction efforts. Key challenges include a lack of financial resources, bureaucratic delays, the effects of the Israeli occupation and blockade, a lack of transparency in aid distribution, weak oversight mechanisms, and poor coordination between the government and private sectors. Notably, the absence of effective oversight and accountability scored the highest (3.43, 68.6%), reflecting widespread concern about governance and corruption issues undermining program effectiveness.

• Results related to examining the study hypotheses

Table 8. Association between household characteristics and the effectiveness of government policies in combating poverty.

Independent Variable	R	R2	F	Sig. (p-Value)	Statistical Interpretation	Decision
Type of Housing	0.040	0.002	0.703	0.402	No statistically significant effect	Accept the hypothesis
Saving Ability	0.039	0.002	0.690	0.407	No statistically significant effect	Accept the hypothesis
Employment Status	0.109	0.012	5.334	0.021	Statistically significant effect	Reject the hypothesis
Monthly Individual Income	0.049	0.002	1.071	0.301	No statistically significant effect	Accept the hypothesis
Family Size	0.012	0.000	0.066	0.797	No statistically significant effect	Accept the hypothesis

,

Table 9. Association between household characteristics and adequacy of government policies in combating poverty.

Independent Variable	R	R2	F	Sig. (p-Value)	Statistical Interpretation	Decision
Type of Housing	0.021	0.000	0.190	0.663	No statistically significant effect	Accept the hypothesis
Saving Ability	0.028	0.001	0.339	0.561	No statistically significant effect	Accept the hypothesis
Employment Status	0.109	0.012	5.318	0.022	Statistically significant effect	Reject the hypothesis
Monthly Individual Income	0.007	0.000	0.022	0.882	No statistically significant effect	Accept the hypothesis

and

Table 10. Association between household characteristics and perceived contribution of government programs to combating poverty.

Independent Variable	R	R2	F	Sig. (p-Value)	Statistical Interpretation	Decision
Type of Housing	0.149	0.022	10.116	0.002	Statistically significant effect	Reject the hypothesis
Saving Ability	0.061	0.004	1.680	0.196	No statistically significant effect	Accept the hypothesis
Employment Status	0.011	0.000	0.053	0.818	No statistically significant effect	Accept the hypothesis
Monthly Individual Income	0.047	0.002	0.968	0.326	No statistically significant effect	Accept the hypothesis
Household Size (Family Members)	0.006	0.000	0.016	0.899	No statistically significant effect	Accept the hypothesis

show the results of hypothesis testing presented in the outset. Table 8 shows that most demographic variables (type of housing, saving capacity, income level, household size) do not significantly affect the effectiveness of government policies in combating poverty. Only employment status has a statistically significant effect (p = 0.021 < 0.05). Therefore, the hypothesis is accepted for all variables except employment status, where the hypothesis is rejected due to its high impact.

Table 9 indicates that most economic variables—namely, type of housing, ability to save, and per capita monthly income—do not have a statistically significant effect on perceptions of the adequacy of government policies in reducing poverty, with probability values exceeding 0.05. However, employment status stands out as the only variable with a statistically significant effect (p = 0.022), suggesting that employed and unemployed individuals may differ in how they assess the adequacy of government policies. Thus, the hypothesis is accepted for three variables and rejected only for employment status.

The results of Table 10 show that most demographic variables—including saving capacity, employment status, monthly income, and household size—do not have a statistically significant effect on how individuals perceive the contribution of government programs to poverty reduction (p > 0.05). However, housing type was found to have a statistically significant effect (p = 0.002), suggesting that respondents’ housing status (perhaps property for rent or quality level) influences their perception of government efforts. Accordingly, the hypothesis is rejected only for the housing variable, while it is accepted for all other demographic variables.

6. Discussion

The results of the study confirmed that the government programs and policies used to combat poverty in Palestine, from the perspective of poor beneficiary families, still suffer from major gaps in terms of their effectiveness and adequacy, which reflects negatively on the ability of these policies to achieve a tangible impact in improving the conditions of marginalized and poorest groups. Data extracted from the research sample of 447 families benefiting from social protection programs revealed that the living and economic reality of these families is characterized by fragility, whether in terms of residential instability, low income levels, lack of job security, or limited access to economic services. The results indicated that most of these families suffer from deteriorating living conditions, as the majority of their resources are concentrated in meeting basic needs, without any ability to save or invest in improving their conditions, and this result is consistent with previous findings [49,50]. The economic fragility of these families reflects the ongoing structural challenges highlighted by geographical and social theories of poverty, which highlights the need to pursue integrated and sustainable policies that address the symptoms and structural roots of poverty in Palestine.

The results of the study confirmed that there is a decrease in the levels of satisfaction among the poor families targeted in the study about the programs allocated to employ people with limited income, that is, the poor. This is because the Palestinian government, as part of its employment strategies, is self-employment, which depends mainly on providing loans and grants to health workers. Small projects, but this strategy is not compatible with the difficult economic conditions of poor families, as a result of limited financing and benefits thrown at them. On the other hand, the results showed that the effectiveness of government policies has shown a significant and noticeable decline. However, it must be noted that poor families have shown limited satisfaction, perhaps translated into average, about the Palestinian government’s provision of free educational programs as an integral part of strategies to combat poverty. But this strategy still has a relative impact in combating poverty because this impact does not translate into comprehensive improvement in poverty indicators due to the weakness of multiple aspects that were clarified through the analysis. These results are consistent with what has been reported in the relevant literature [28,51]

The results of the study confirmed a decrease in the satisfaction of poor families with the existence of government programs that provide adequate psychological support to them. This is because there are certainly government initiatives to establish psychological support programs, and these programs have increased in recent periods as a result of the events that the State of Palestine is going through. However, these programs require effective marketing and great awareness about their existence and mechanisms for benefiting from them. It was noted that there is a lack of awareness among the poor families that were targeted in this study about their existence. It also certainly requires increasing the number of these programs and qualifying larger cadres to deal with the huge number of families, as what the Palestinian people are going through requires psychological and social rescue, no less than economic and humanitarian rescue.

The perceptions of poor families confirmed that the most prominent challenges facing government policies in combating poverty are the absence of effective oversight mechanisms (such as the absence of accountability mechanisms on corruption issues), which reduces the effectiveness of government programs directed towards reducing poverty. This is due to the absence of effective and sufficient political will to activate the integrity and transparency system. Weak coordination between regulatory authorities, in addition to the absence of real community participation to hinders the implementation of programs and policies. This is not overlooked by the connection between the difficult conditions that the country is going through, including a severe economic collapse and a massive reduction in government salaries, which in some cases creates in the public employee an incentive to resort to unethical practices such as corruption as an outlet for the difficult circumstances.

The findings also show that the absence of integration between social protection policies and economic development policies, coupled with a weak focus on sustainable empowerment and reliance on temporary (external) assistance, has weakened the effectiveness and adequacy of these policies in addressing structural poverty in Palestinian society. These results confirm the need for a comprehensive review of government programs to combat poverty, in terms of structure, objectives, and implementation and evaluation mechanisms, with the need to adopt a participatory and integrated approach that links the social and economic dimensions, enhances the opportunities to integrate the poor into the labor market, and enables them to build their capabilities, in line with Palestine’s commitments to the SDGS.

7. Conclusions and Recommendations

This study employed a mixed-methods approach to assess the role of Palestinian government policies in combating poverty as part of the 2030 SDGs. A structured questionnaire was distributed to 447 low-income households, while content analysis was used to examine relevant laws, strategies, and programs. The results revealed that the perceived effectiveness of government policies was rated 2.49 out of 5, while their adequacy received a score of 2.47 out of 5, both falling in the “moderately low” range. Respondents expressed limited satisfaction, particularly with employment programs, cash assistance, and the lack of long-term planning. Key challenges identified include institutional fragmentation, limited inter-agency coordination, and a heavy dependence on external aid, which together compromise the sustainability and consistency of anti-poverty initiatives.

This study is of particular importance as it explores the role of government policies in combating poverty in Palestine, a country facing exceptional political and economic challenges. The urgency of this investigation is underscored by the alarming rise in poverty rates (expected to reach 74.3% in 2024). While the study identifies clear gaps in existing policy frameworks and offers practical recommendations, it also emphasizes the need to recognize the broader structural and political constraints shaping government capacity in Palestine. Armed conflict, recurring instability, and the lack of full sovereignty impose severe limitations on the ability of the Palestinian Authority to design and implement coherent and effective poverty-reduction strategies. Military incursions, damaged infrastructure, and unpredictable donor support further disrupt program delivery, displace beneficiaries, and undermine public trust in institutions. The chronic nature of the conflict means that even well-intentioned and well-designed interventions may fall short under conditions of fragility and uncertainty. Therefore, this study argues for policy approaches that are not only technically sound but also politically adaptive and responsive to the evolving realities on the ground. Acknowledging these limitations is essential for any realistic evaluation of government efforts to combat poverty in such a complex context.

The study recommends the need to enhance integration between social protection policies and economic development by adopting a comprehensive vision that integrates the provision of aid and sustainable economic empowerment programs to achieve greater sustainable development, so that efforts focus on providing job opportunities and vocational training programs that qualify for the labor market, instead of being limited to temporary support. The research also emphasizes the importance of developing coordination and cooperation mechanisms between government agencies, the private sector, non-governmental organizations, and donors, to ensure unified efforts and maximize the use of available resources. It is necessary to activate the community participation of beneficiary families in the stages of designing and evaluating programs by creating dialogue platforms that allow them to express their real needs, which contributes to raising the efficiency of government programs and policies and enhancing community confidence in the concerned authorities.

Furthermore, there is a need to strengthen the institutional capabilities of the implementing agencies by developing effective monitoring and evaluation systems that track the performance of programs and measure their impact periodically to ensure improved quality and effectiveness of services. Also, the psychological and social dimension of poor families cannot be overlooked, since psychological and social support services must be included in protection programmes because of their direct impact on improving the quality of life of families and enabling them to face challenges. It is also recommended to implement awareness and educational campaigns aimed at raising families’ awareness of their rights and means of economic empowerment, in addition to building savings and financial planning skills to improve the management of household resources. In addition to creating a strong political will that confronts and deters cases of corruption and sets what can be implemented to reduce poverty by providing zero long-term loans (as special cases require sustainability in financing and follow-up of their projects by facilitating obtaining an additional percentage on the loan) so that the aid is sustainable and not Relief, and promoting dialogue and active cooperation between the public sector and civil society As both complement each other in achieving the first goal of the sustainable development goals through exchanging information regarding the phenomenon of poverty and holding periodic conferences and meetings. Also, enhancing the role of government partnership between ministries by forming committees concerned with combating poverty, such as the Women’s Employment Committee and the Youth Employment Committee. These committees include in their membership all relevant ministries.

Finally, the study emphasizes the necessity of formulating long-term policies that take into account the specificity of Palestinian society and its political, economic, and social circumstances, so that they are flexible and adaptable to changes, with a focus on addressing the structural gaps that contribute to enhancing poverty.