# Palestinian Territories (PS)

**Capital:** East Jerusalem (claimed) / Ramallah (administrative seat)  
**Currency:** Israeli New Shekel (ILS) (ILS)  
**Population:** 5'560'000  
**Area:** 6'220 km²

> The Palestinian Territories (West Bank and Gaza Strip) form a customs union with Israel under the Paris Protocol. Israel controls the external borders and collects customs duties and the 16 percent import VAT, remitting them as clearance revenues. There is no functioning own seaport or cargo airport; goods move via Israeli ports (Ashdod, Haifa) and the Allenby/King Hussein Bridge to Jordan, with Gaza supplied only through Kerem Shalom. High political risk, dual-use restrictions and a fragile ceasefire since October 2025 shape the situation.

The Palestinian Territories (ISO code PS) lie in the Middle East and comprise the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, bordering Israel, Jordan and Egypt. They are administered by the Palestinian Authority; since 2007 governance has been split between Fatah in the West Bank and Hamas in Gaza. The climate is Mediterranean in the West Bank and subtropical-coastal in Gaza. The economy is dominated by services, alongside agriculture, construction and trade, while restricted movement limits development. Under the 1994 Paris Protocol the territories form a customs union with Israel, which controls all external borders and collects import duties and VAT on their behalf, remitting them as clearance revenues. The New Israeli Shekel (ILS) is the main circulating currency. There is no functioning own seaport or commercial cargo airport, so trade runs through Israeli ports (Ashdod, Haifa), Ben Gurion airport and the Allenby/King Hussein Bridge to Jordan, leaving logistics highly dependent on Israeli infrastructure and security clearance.

**Top Import Partners:** IL, CN, TR, JO, EG

**Top Export Partners:** IL, JO, AE, SA, EG

**Top Import Goods:** Nahrungsmittel, Erdölprodukte, Baumaterialien, Maschinen, Fahrzeuge

**Top Export Goods:** Agrarprodukte, Stein, Baustoffe, Textilien

**Key Airports:**
- [Jurish Highway Strip H](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/jurish-highway-strip-h-airport-15512)
- [Bethlehem Heliport](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/bethlehem-heliport-airport-8609)
- [Ramallah Heliport (ZDM)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/ramallah-heliport-airport-zdm)
- [Gush Katif Airport](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/gush-katif-airport-16453)
- [Muqeible Airfield](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/muqeible-airport-15239)
- [Yasser Arafat International Airport](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/airports/yasser-arafat-international-airport-27646)

## Customs & Import

**Import VAT:** Einfuhr-MwSt 16 Prozent (palästinensische VAT). Erhebung durch Israel an den Aussengrenzen, Weiterleitung als Clearance-Einnahmen. Paris-Protokoll: Satz höchstens 2 Punkte unter dem israelischen Satz von aktuell 18 Prozent.  
**Customs complexity:** hoch  
**Customs system:** Zollunion mit Israel (Paris-Protokoll 1994). Israel kontrolliert die Aussengrenzen und zieht Zölle und MwSt ein. Palästinensische Abfertigung über ASYCUDA World der Zoll- und Verbrauchsteuerabteilung.  
**Customs authority:** [Palästinensisches Finanzministerium, Zoll- und Verbrauchsteuerabteilung (Customs and Excise)](https://www.pmof.ps/en/)

## Logistics & Risk

**Logistics role:** Eingeschränkter Markt unter israelischer Zollkontrolle; humanitäre Logistik  
**Economic area:** Zollunion mit Israel (Paris-Protokoll)  
**Logistics risk:** sehr hoch  
**Dangerous goods relevance:** gering  
**Pharma/cold chain:** mittel

## Sources & Last Verified

- [https://www.pmof.ps/en/](https://www.pmof.ps/en/)
- [https://www.mne.gov.ps/ckfinder/userfiles/files/agreements/Paris%20Economic%20Protocol.pdf](https://www.mne.gov.ps/ckfinder/userfiles/files/agreements/Paris%20Economic%20Protocol.pdf)
- [https://www.pcbs.gov.ps/site/512/default.aspx?lang=en](https://www.pcbs.gov.ps/site/512/default.aspx?lang=en)
- [https://unctad.org/news/unctads-asycuda-proving-vital-tool-modernizing-palestinian-customs-procedures](https://unctad.org/news/unctads-asycuda-proving-vital-tool-modernizing-palestinian-customs-procedures)
- [https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/palestinian-territories/corporate/other-taxes](https://taxsummaries.pwc.com/palestinian-territories/corporate/other-taxes)
- [https://www.gov.il/en/departments/israel_tax_authority](https://www.gov.il/en/departments/israel_tax_authority)
- [https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/west-bank-and-gaza-distribution-and-sales-channels](https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/west-bank-and-gaza-distribution-and-sales-channels)
- [https://www.ochaopt.org/content/humanitarian-situation-report-19-march-2026](https://www.ochaopt.org/content/humanitarian-situation-report-19-march-2026)

*Last verified: 2026-06-27*

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*Freight Academy — Country Profile: [https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/ps](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/ps)*

*Markdown mirror: [https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/country/en/ps](https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/country/en/ps)*