This report presents the first comprehensive assessment of the destruction and loss of public records in Palestinian institutions in the Gaza Strip, following the outbreak of war in October 2023.

“Institutional memory”, defined as the archived records and documented knowledge of institutions, is a cornerstone of effective governance, particularly in the justice and security sectors. It underpins transparency, continuity, accountability, and the protection of public and private rights.

Since the establishment of the Palestinian Authority (PA) in the 1990s the PA assumed responsibility for maintaining public records across the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt). However, the 2007 political split between Fatah and Hamas fragmented record-keeping, with the De-Facto Authority in Gaza assuming full control in the Strip, while the PA retained authority in the West Bank and over certain Gaza-related documents, such as the civil registry. Israel also maintains control over some records and approvals, further complicating institutional sovereignty.

The Gaza war has severely damaged institutional infrastructure, with over 80% of government buildings destroyed, including its archives and digital servers. The full extent of the damage to official records remains unknown, raising serious concerns about the collapse of institutional memory and its implications for rule of law, access to justice, and individual rights.

Based on data from 45 public institutions across the West Bank and Gaza, including ministries, civil and religious courts, the civil registry, security bodies, the Land Authority, and municipalities, this report draws on interviews, legislative analysis, and field-based data collection.

It identifies key institutions responsible for issuing civil records, analyzes the legal frameworks governing these processes, and assesses the destruction of both physical and electronic documentation.  

Despite significant challenges, the report provides a critical analysis of how the conflict endangers the preservation of institutional memory.

It concludes with concrete recommendations tailored to the PA and the international community to support documentation recovery, strengthen institutional resilience, and safeguard governance continuity. Urgent action is required to ensure the protection of records that are essential to the functioning of justice and security institutions and to the rights of Palestinian citizens.