ICSPR Organizes Workshop in Displacement Camps Titled “Humanitarian Response and the Protection of Civil Peace” with the Participation of Dozens of Gaza’s Displaced

Date: July 29, 2025

Press Release

ICSPR Organizes Workshop in Displacement Camps Titled “Humanitarian Response and the Protection of Civil Peace” with the Participation of Dozens of Gaza’s Displaced

The International Commission to Support Palestinian Rights (ICSPR) organized a workshop on Sunday entitled “Humanitarian Response and the Protection of Civil Peace”, held in one of the tents set up along the Gaza seashore, which shelters displaced people from various parts of the Gaza Strip due to the ongoing Israeli aggression.

The workshop saw the participation of dozens of displaced individuals from different age and social groups, amid dire humanitarian conditions resulting from the forced displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians. This comes in the context of a genocidal war waged by Israeli forces for over nine months, which has caused widespread destruction to infrastructure and the deliberate targeting of civilians.

During the workshop, Dr. Ali Al-Attar, a board member of ICSPR, emphasized the importance of maintaining civil peace under such emergency circumstances. He stressed that civil peace is not merely the absence of violence, but a comprehensive system of solidarity and social cohesion that promotes values of coexistence and mutual understanding among community members.

Dr. Al-Attar highlighted the vital role that civil society organizations play in promoting a culture of civil peace through awareness campaigns, psychosocial support, and shifting public discourse towards unity rather than division—especially under the catastrophic reality imposed on Gaza by the ongoing war.

He added: “We must all recognize that the protection of civil peace is a collective responsibility. It rests on the shoulders of both citizens and civil institutions alike, particularly as economic and social pressures mount and poverty and displacement become widespread.”

For his part, lawyer Mohammad Saleem addressed the legal aspects of protecting civil peace, pointing out that respect for the rule of law, the rejection of vigilante justice, and ensuring justice for all are key pillars of social stability.

Saleem affirmed that both national and international laws safeguard the rights of displaced persons and place obligations on de facto authorities to ensure security, protection, freedom of movement, and freedom of expression. He emphasized the importance of:

• Ensuring fair and non-discriminatory access to humanitarian aid.

• Combating hate speech and incitement within displaced communities.

• Resolving minor disputes in the camps through mediation and dialogue.

• Enabling the community to monitor public performance and hold authorities accountable.

• Raising legal awareness about international protection mechanisms, including the Fourth Geneva Convention and international humanitarian law.

The workshop was held in an emotionally charged atmosphere on the Gaza beachfront, where thousands of families currently live in makeshift tents after losing their homes to systematic bombardment.

The event featured open discussions with participants, who spoke about their daily suffering and the tensions within displacement camps due to worsening living conditions. They called for more community-based initiatives aimed at psychological relief and rebuilding trust among the population.

At the conclusion of the event, ICSPR called on all responsible authorities to shoulder their moral and legal duties toward the displaced population. The commission urged the international and Arab communities to intensify their support efforts and work toward immediately halting the aggression and finding a just solution that preserves the dignity and legitimate national rights of the Palestinian people.