Humanitarianism in the West Bank: Structures, Power, and the Limits of Aid

By examining humanitarian practice through structural, political, and moral lenses, we asked what it means to “do no harm” in a context where aid can both alleviate suffering and entrench the very systems that produce it.

Together with practitioners and scholars, we explored the limits of existing humanitarian frameworks and why, without meaningful accountability and radical change, current systems struggle to contribute to a more equitable and transformative future. The discussion considered alternatives grounded in solidarity rather than charity, centering local agency, Palestinian perspectives, and long-term justice rather than short-term relief.

This event was moderated by Layth Hanbali, Researcher at Institute for Palestine Studies and PhD candidate, who was joined by:

• Tammam Aloudat | CEO, The New Humanitarian 
• Matiangai Sirleaf | Nathan Patz Professor of Law, University of Maryland Francis King Carey School of Law
• Bushra Khalidi | Global Humanitarian Policy Lead, Oxfam
• Lubnah Shomali | Palestinian human rights defender and activist, BADIL 

The conversation was live-streamed in both Arabic and English. 

This event was convened by The New Humanitarian in collaboration with BADIL Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights, The Third World Approaches to International Law Review, Birzeit University Muwatin Institute for Democracy and Human Rights and Birzeit University Ibrahim Abu-Lughod Institute of International Studies.