Please read the summary report here.
We need to continue to talk about Gaza. Humanitarian action finds itself in the most extreme context in Gaza with International Humanitarian Law being broken every day by Israel, leading to major suffering of Palestinian people in Gaza and the destruction of the region. Civilians, civilian infrastructure and aid workers are under attack and humanitarian aid is blocked and controlled by Israel. Israel is not just breaking International Humanitarian Law, but it is tearing down its very institutions. The lack of response, or outright support, by the international community leads to a level of impunity that could well create precedence for humanitarian action in other contexts, or in general. What does the situation in Gaza mean for principled humanitarian action, what does it do to the credibility of humanitarian actors and where is this bringing the humanitarian sector? In this session we will bring together members of the Dutch Relief Alliance, MSF, the Dutch Red Cross and a few academics to learn from the experiences of the Gaza Joint Response, which could be of relevance for others.
The second Gaza Joint Response since October 2023, started in January 2025 and has been operational across the Gaza Strip. It aims to provide urgent humanitarian assistance, protect vulnerable communities, alleviate the burden of food insecurity, restore essential healthcare services, and address the severe mental health and psycho-social challenges facing those affected by the crisis. Led by War Child, with partner organizations including CARE, Oxfam Novib, Save the Children, Plan International, and Terre des Hommes, and seven local partners, the initiative focuses on WASH services, healthcare, food security, multi-purpose cash assistance, and protection. The extreme circumstances and the inaction by the international community have created major dilemmas for the organisations that are part of the Joint Response. The speakers will reflect on those dilemmas and speak to responsibilities of different actors, including extreme requests of donors and other actors that politicised their actions. In addition, they will reflect on the advocacy angle that the Joint Response has taken. Please join in this session to learn from the experiences of colleagues in Gaza and to reflect on what this means for the future of humanitarian action.
Moderation by Corinne Lamain, KUNO knowledge platform
