Gazans forcibly transferred and stuck in the West Bank: Cash Assistance calculation and design - v.2, January 2026

Following 27 months of the October war in Gaza and in light of the significant contextual, economic, and humanitarian shifts that have occurred since the immediate aftermath of the 7th of October events, the Cash Working Group (CWG) is updating the document below to ensure it remains fit for purpose, responsive to current needs, and fully aligned with the updated West Bank Minimum Expenditure Basket (WB MEB) endorsed by the CWG in August 2025. While the original analysis and transfer value were developed to address an exceptional and time-bound caseload of Gazan workers and Gazan patients forcibly transferred to the West Bank, evolving conditions, lessons learned from implementation, and the endorsement of a revised WB MEB necessitate a review and technical update to ensure continued relevance, coherence with national and international standards, and consistency with current guidance from authorities and humanitarian partners.

Noting that in the immediate aftermath of the 7th of October events, an undefined number of Gazan workers in Israel, as well as medical cases, were arrested and forcibly transferred to the West Bank. As of 29th of November, the number is estimated to 4,500 Gazans in the WB, around 4000 are workers and Gazans with other type of permits and 505 medical cases. While governorate and local authorities provide food, shelter, and healthcare, the needs of these workers and medical cases remain only partially met, the assistance in inconsistent due to the lack of resources, and there is a gap. In response to this situation, both international actors such as World Food Program (WFP), CRS, UNRWA, ILO, Action Against Hunger (AAH), and government ministries, such as Ministry of Labour (MoL) and Ministry of Social Development (MoSD), considered unrestricted cash assistance as a quick and effective way to provide relief to the workers.

In terms of transfer value, the group agreed to update the value to be delivered to 775 NIS per case, up to three payments in 2026.

The West Bank Minimum Expenditure Basket (WB MEB), endorsed by the WB ICCG in mid-2026, is set at 2,508.15 NIS, for as standard family of 5. The emergency transfer value derived from the MEB is 1,755 NIS. However, the situation of this specific caseload is exceptional, not allowing the endorsed transfer value to be used, especially considering the below element:

The workers and medical cases are either alone or accompanied by one other person and are not accompanied by families; therefore, the assistance is calculated for a maximum household size of two people rather than at an individual level.

The CWG conducted a re-calculation of the WB MEB in light of the element outlined above. The exercise excluded the education component, as no school-age children are present in the caseload, and included food, shelter, WASH, health, communication, energy, transportation, clothing, and debts, calculated for a maximum household size of two individuals. These components are fully costed in line with the WB MEB, as experience over the past period has shown that other entities have not been able to consistently or fully cover these needs. In addition, in accordance with the 2026 Flash Appeal, this intervention is designed to be delivered up to three times per year.

With the above the CWG estimated a transfer value of 775.12 NIS, noting that it’s 80% of the calculated related MEB.

Note that for medical cases referral, organizations are to receive the lists from Ministry of Social Development, as per their latest updated and verified lists.