Forbidden Targets: The Endangered Work of Humanitarians Protecting Civilians in Gaza

The protection of civilians in conflict is a pressing global issue and is closely linked to the safety and efforts of humanitarian workers. Recent journalistic, United Nations (UN), and NGO reports show that conflicts in Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Sudan, South Sudan, and Syria have been particularly disastrous for civilian populations.

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Forbidden Targets: The Endangered Work of Humanitarians Protecting Civilians in Gaza

The protection of civilians in conflict is a pressing global issue and is closely linked to the safety and efforts of humanitarian workers. Recent journalistic, United Nations (UN), and NGO reports show that conflicts in Palestine, Israel, Lebanon, Sudan, South Sudan, and Syria have been particularly disastrous for civilian populations. Humanitarian workers and NGOs step in during such crises by providing lifesaving assistance and advocating for policy changes to protect civilians. With a focus on the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza, this commentary highlights the indispensable role of humanitarians and NGOs to protect civilians, and how this work is increasingly threatened by the evolution of conflict. It also provides reflections on how the international community can act to reduce civilian suffering and the increasing targeting of humanitarians in conflict.

International Humanitarian Law and civilian harm

Civilians, humanitarian workers (including medical personnel) and journalists are protected under International Humanitarian Law (IHL). IHL requires all parties to a conflict to distinguish between combatants and civilians, and it prohibits attacks on civilian infrastructure. In cases of doubt, individuals must be considered civilians. The principles of distinction and proportionality, fundamental to IHL, oblige military actions to avoid disproportionate harm to civilians while balancing military objectives. These principles are part of customary international law, which means that they are universally accepted regardless of their codification in treaty law.

Yet, despite these protections, civilians pay an unacceptably high price in modern conflict. Forced displacement, famine, disease, loss of shelter, injury, and death are among the realities they face. According to the UN, civilian deaths from conflict increased by 72% in 2023 compared to 2022 – the most significant increase since 2015. Much of this escalation is linked to the Israel-Hamas war following the attacks on October 7, 2023. Since then, the war has resulted in the deaths of more than 43,000 Palestinian civilians and injuries to 102,000 civilians, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health. In addition, more than 1,200 Israeli civilians have been killed, and 5,400 injured, according to Israeli authorities.

In November 2024, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, asserting that IHL applies to the Israel-Hamas conflict. The ICC cited evidence of serious IHL violations, including the use of starvation as a method of warfare, as well as crimes against humanity in the form of murder and persecution. These charges underscore that serious violations of IHL must not go unpunished.

Humanitarian aid: a lifeline in Gaza

The work of humanitarian organizations – including NGOs and UN Agencies – is critical to protect civilians in conflict. For instance, the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), whose mandate was established in 1949, is a key provider of aid in Gaza. Its staff deliver assistance such as education, health care, microfinance, and shelter. Additionally, 15 other UN agencies monitor and address Gaza’s humanitarian crisis.

NGOs also play a critical role in Gaza. For instance, the World Central Kitchen has delivered more than 41 million meals to civilians between October 2023 and March 2024. Save the Children has provided about $8 million in cash assistance to families in need, while Doctors Without Borders offers essential healthcare, including surgery, maternal care, and mental health support. Its water distribution programs are lifesaving in a region where clean water is scarce.

Beyond providing direct assistance, humanitarians act as advocates for the protection of civilians. NGOs like Human Rights Watch document violations of IHL, such as civilian harm caused by airstrikes, using evidence such as satellite imagery and testimonies. Such research informs advocacy efforts, like the October 2024 letter signed by 111 NGOs urging U.S. senators to restrict arms sales to Israel. Collectively, these organizations amplify calls for ceasefires, accountability for IHL violations, and adherence to IHL.

Growing threats to humanitarians’ work and safety

Despite their crucial role, humanitarians’ work and safety are increasingly threatened by the current evolution of conflicts. In Gaza, access to families in need is extremely challenged. The flows of supplies delivered for humanitarian assistance is also importantly restricted by Israeli authorities, making it extremely difficult to meet civilians’ urgent needs resulting from the conflict. After suspicions by Israel that Hamas combatants had infiltrated the UNRWA, Israel recently decided to cut ties with the agency.

According to a November 2024 UN OCHA report, the current situation in northern Gaza is “apocalyptic”, reiterating that the help provided by humanitarians is vital for civilians. Restrictions imposed on humanitarian aid and the recent decision by Israel to ban UNRWA raises very concerning questions about the potential collapse of the entire humanitarian aid in Gaza.

In addition to the restriction imposed on their work, the very safety of humanitarians is also under threat. In 2023, 280 humanitarian workers were killed globally, and 91 abducted. In Gaza alone, at least 304 humanitarian workers have been killed since October 7, 2023, according to the UN, currently making it the most dangerous place for humanitarians. Despite requirements of IHL, civilians and humanitarians are in practice no longer treated as protected groups but as permissible targets.

Such erosion of their protection signals not only a disregard for IHL, but a shift toward a dangerous behavior in conflict where no one is off-limits. If this trend continues, the indispensable lifeline that humanitarians provide to civilians could be seriously disrupted. If sovereign states and non-state armed actors do not protect civilians in conflict, and if humanitarian workers who protect civilians are also targeted by these same actors, then who will be left to ensure that civilians are protected in wars?

The need for greater accountability and protection

Existing frameworks, such as IHL and UN Security Council resolutions, provide clear guidance on the protection of civilians, but their enforcement is seriously lacking. Governments and intergovernmental organizations, including the UN, and the European Union (EU), must prioritize securing and supporting the work of humanitarian actors while strengthening accountability mechanisms to ensure that armed actors comply with IHL.

To achieve this, national and international policymakers must actively engage with humanitarian and human rights NGOs, whose expertise and on-the-ground insights are essential for shaping effective policies.

The ability of humanitarian organizations to deliver assistance to civilians in need is both urgent and indispensable. The UN Security Council should immediately establish mechanisms to ensure the uninterrupted functioning of humanitarian corridors in conflict zones. This is particularly critical in Gaza, where the safe delivery of humanitarian aid to civilians must be a priority. At the same time, governments should provide sufficient financial support to humanitarian organizations to enable them to operate effectively in hostile conditions.

The protection of civilians and humanitarian workers also requires a firm commitment to accountability. IHL serves as the cornerstone to regulate the conduct of war, but the alarming scale of civilian harm in recent conflicts underscores the urgent need for independent investigations into violations of IHL. Perpetrators must be held accountable, and the ICC should continue to receive strong support from its member states to ensure effective prosecution of these violations. Accountability is not only a moral imperative, but also a concrete measure to strengthen compliance with IHL.

The EU must also take stronger steps to ensure compliance with IHL. While the annual “EU Guidelines on Promoting Compliance with International Humanitarian Law” and initiatives such as “IHL in Focus” discussed at the 2024 European Humanitarian Forum are steps in the right direction, they lack concrete enforcement mechanisms. This is a significant shortcoming, as promoting compliance is far more effective when accompanied by concrete consequences for violations. The EU should address this by enhancing existing measures, such as Council Decision 2003/335/JHA on war crimes investigations, and developing robust tools to investigate and sanction IHL violations. In doing so, the EU would not only strengthen its support for the ICC, but also its ability to act independently against violations.

In addition, governments must adhere to their domestic legal frameworks and suspend arms transfers to states that target civilians. For example, U.S. laws such as the Leahy Law and Section 620I of the Foreign Assistance Act provide important tools to regulate U.S. security assistance. These legal provisions should be applied consistently, including in the context of U.S. arms transfers to Israel, to ensure consistency with humanitarian and legal obligations.

In sum, the growing disregard for IHL in modern conflicts is a dangerous shift. The protection of civilians and humanitarian workers must become an (even more) urgent priority for governments and international organizations. New York City may feel far away from Israel and Gaza, but UN policymakers cannot afford to remain disconnected from the realities on the ground. By listening to humanitarian voices and enforcing legal and policy frameworks, the international community can forge a path toward greater accountability and protection. The lives of civilians – and of those working relentlessly to save them – depend on it.

(Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons)