Aid and Blockades; An Empirical Analysis : How Israeli Blockades Have Changed the Nature of Humanitarian Action for Gaza Since 2023

Sammanfattning

Humanitarian action is only effective if it is able to reach those in need, thus, the imposition of blockades produces a major challenge for the field of humanitarianism. The Gaza Strip has been under blockade for many years, however, the intensification of such barriers in 2023 ushered in what many consider the worst chapter in the history of Israel and Palestine. Though calls to end the blockade have abounded, little academic research has been produced regarding the adaptations the humanitarian sector has witnessed in the face of these challenges. This desk-based study conducts an empirical analysis of existing literature and secondary sources to consider changes that have occurred since the imposition of the 2023 blockade. Importantly, this blockade is embedded within over a century of colonialism and oppression and cannot be understood separately from this. Thus, this thesis will contextualize the blockade and siege on Gaza within the history of the land before proceeding to analyze its effects and the responses from the international community. Overall, this thesis finds that the weaponization of humanitarianism, forced localization of relief efforts, and increased solidarity action present new realities within humanitarian action for Gaza. By analyzing these varied forms of humanitarianism, one can conceive of different possibilities to care for civilians and recognize vulnerabilities that Gazans face. Additionally, these new possibilities within humanitarianism in Gaza present insights for the humanitarian sector at large, as tactics of deprivation and barriers to aid are becoming increasingly common in conflicts across the globe.