Domestic violence and social policy formation in Palestine: an explanatory sequential mixed-methods study

This study examines the relationship between domestic violence and the development and implementation of social policies in Palestine, focusing on the perceptions of officers in the Family and Juvenile Protection Department (FJPD). Adopting an explanatory sequential mixed-methods design, quantitative data were collected from 169 officers across the West Bank and Gaza through structured questionnaires, followed by 15 semi-structured interviews that provided qualitative depth and context. Findings reveal that domestic violence remains pervasive and multifaceted, with psychological and economic abuse identified as the most common forms. Statistical analyses indicate a strong negative correlation between the perceived prevalence of domestic violence and the perceived effectiveness of social protection policies (<i>r</i> = -0.61, <i>p</i> < 0.001). Regression results highlight institutional barriers (<i>β</i> = -0.47) and psychological violence (<i>β</i> = -0.31) as the most significant predictors undermining policy performance. Qualitative insights illuminate how entrenched patriarchal norms, limited institutional capacity, and practitioner burnout jointly constrain effective policy enforcement. Despite the existence of progressive legislative frameworks, implementation is weakened by fragmented coordination, insufficient resources, and the absence of a ratified Family Protection Law. The study contributes empirically and theoretically by linking micro-level patterns of violence with macro-level policy fragility. It underscores the need for integrated reforms legal ratification, institutional capacity-building, and cultural transformation to bridge the persistent gap between policy symbolism and substantive gender justice in Palestine.