Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Our team in Jerusalem provides legal expertise to support humanitarian and human rights action in the Israeli-Palestinian context.

Barbed wire and in the background the Temple Mountain.

Current research project

Shrinking space for civil society

We provide in-depth analysis of the measures taken by authorities in Israel and Palestine to restrict civil and political rights.

A health worker sanitising houses in a poor neighborhood in the Gaza Strip.

Current research project

Covid-19 and IHL in the occupied territory

The COVID-19 pandemic has severe consequences on people affected by armed conflict. We analyse the aspects of international humanitarian law and the impact of the occupation in the Palestinian territory on the fight against the pandemic.

Contact the IHL help desk for the occupied Palestinian territory and the region

Our team in Jerusalem provides with international legal framework analysis, applicable in armed conflicts and situations of occupation, with a strong focus on international humanitarian law (IHL).

E-mail: jerusalem-ihl@diakonia.se

Adherence to IHL improves the humanitarian situation and advances peace

  • Adherence to IHL and international human rights law is a means to improve the humanitarian situation in the occupied territory.
  • Greater awareness among the Israeli and Palestinian societies and within the international community, and implementation of the law, addresses the root causes of the conflict and contributes to peace in the region.
  • IHL provides an objective tool for advocacy beyond moral, political, and religious argumentation.
A person on a rooftop overlooking the high concrete wall and settlements on a hill.

Legal research and education for a better understanding of IHL in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

Lack of knowledge and political will are the driving factors for IHL violations in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. We conduct research, share information, and educate decision-makers in government and the international community about the law. A better understanding of the obligations under IHL leads to better policies and practices, and to lasting behaviour change.