A street view in Jerusalem
Brief

Legal brief on resurging violence and hostilities in Israel-Palestine

18 May, 2021

This brief from the IHL Centre provides an overview of rules of international law binding upon actors involved in the escalating tension and resulting violence that has recently erupted in the Palestinian-Israeli context. The brief clarifies relevant legal obligations of the parties involved, as well as those of other actors with influence in the context.

The legal brief contains detailed analysis of various thematic issues, such as demographic and other changes in the occupied territory, excessive use of force in the context of civil unrest and law enforcement activities in the occupied territory, arrests and detention of persons, access to consecrated religious sites and other religious freedoms in the occupied territory, and the conduct of hostilities and the prohibition of indiscriminate attacks. This brief is supplemented by a timeline of relevant events, from the displacement and dispossession in Sheikh Jarrah to the current violence and hostilities. In summary, attention is called to the following obligations binding on actors engaged in the conflict or in a position of influence in the context.

For all parties to the conflict:

    Israel, as the occupying power, must:

      States that are not parties to the conflict and the international community at large:


        If you have further questions, please contact us at ihl@diakonia.se.