International Humanitarian Law Amid The Gaza Crisis: Power Asymmetry, Civil Violations, and Global Accountability Imbalance

Dedi Komarudin; Totok Prio Kismanto; Tarsisius Susilo; I Ketut Setia Budi; Yulian Iskandar

doi:10.31000/jhr.v13i1.13967

International Humanitarian Law Amid The Gaza Crisis: Power Asymmetry, Civil Violations, and Global Accountability Imbalance

Dedi Komarudin, Totok Prio Kismanto, Tarsisius Susilo, I Ketut Setia Budi, Yulian Iskandar

Abstract

The Israel–Palestine conflict is one of the longest-standing conflicts that has drawn significant international attention, especially concerning the application of International Humanitarian Law (IHL). This article aims to analyze the dynamics of implementing core IHL principles, such as the principles of proportionality, distinction, and the protection of civilians, in the ongoing armed conflict in the Gaza Strip and West Bank. Through a qualitative approach with document analysis of official reports from the UN, ICRC, and international NGOs, various violations of IHL norms were identified, which had a significant impact on civilians, including attacks on medical facilities, schools, and restrictions on humanitarian access. Additionally, this article highlights enforcement challenges, such as politicization at the UN Security Council and the weakness of international sanctions mechanisms. The findings underscore the importance of strengthening the international legal system and the role of the global community in promoting accountability and civilian protection. This article is expected to contribute academically to contemporary discussions on humanitarian law and human rights in conflict zone.

Keywords: International Humanitarian Law, Israel–Palestine, Civilians, Human Rights Violations, Armed Conflict.

Full Text:

PDF

References

Achjar, Komang Ayu Henny, Muhamad Rusliyadi, A. Zaenurrosyid, Nini Apriani Rumata, Iin Nirwana, dan Ayuliamita Abadi. Metode Penelitian Kualitatif: Panduan Praktis untuk Analisis Data Kualitatif dan Studi Kasus. PT. Sonpedia Publishing Indonesia, 2023.

Alexander, Amanda. “A short history of international humanitarian law.” European Journal of International Law 26, no. 1 (2015): 109–38.

Bidali, Felix. “Protection of civilian population by international humanitarian law during international armed conflict,” 2016. https://ir.kiu.ac.ug/bitstream/20.500.12306/8932/1/img-0131.pdf.

Dewantara, Yuni Putri, Michelle Hadi, dan Carissa Amanda Siswanto. “Pengakuan dan Legitimitas di Hukum Internasional: Studi Kasus Konflik Israel-Palestina.” Jurnal Hukum Lex Generalis 6, no. 1 (2025). https://rewangrencang.com/ojs/index.php/JHLG/article/view/627.

Proy, Coline Marie. “The Classification of Civilians as Human Shields: a Means to Justify Violence?,” 2023. https://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/search/publication/9128099.

Ricarte, Joana. The impact of protracted peace processes on identities in conflict: the case of Israel and Palestine. Springer Nature, 2023.

Ridder, Hans-Gerd. “Qualitative Data Analysis. A Methods Sourcebook 3 rd Edition.” JSTOR, 2014.

Sassòli, Marco. “The implementation of international humanitarian law: current and inherent challenges.” Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law 10 (2007): 45–73.

Steinberg. “The Politics of NGOs, Human Rights and the Arab-Israel Conflict.” Israel Studies 16, no. 2 (2011): 24. https://doi.org/10.2979/israelstudies.16.2.24.

Van den Boogaard, J. C. “Proportionality in international humanitarian law.” Uva. Nl. Retrieved February 6 (2019): 2024.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.31000/jhr.v13i1.13967