The Impact of the Israeli–Palestinian Conflict on Civilian Safety in Israel and Palestine

Abstract

The Israeli–Palestinian conflict remains one of the most enduring armed conflicts in contemporary international politics, with profound consequences for civilian populations. While existing studies have extensively examined its political, legal, and strategic dimensions, comparatively less attention has been paid to the broader implications for civilian safety from a human security perspective. This study examined the impact of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict on civilian safety between 2020 and 2024 using Human Security Theory as its analytical framework. Employing a qualitative research design, the study relied on documentary evidence drawn from peer-reviewed literature, reports of international organisations, humanitarian agencies, and relevant policy documents. Data were analysed through thematic content analysis. The findings reveal that the conflict has undermined civilian safety through three interconnected pathways: extensive civilian casualties, the widespread destruction of critical civilian infrastructure, and large-scale forced displacement that has intensified food insecurity, disrupted healthcare and education, and heightened psychological distress. The study further demonstrates that these consequences are mutually reinforcing, producing a multidimensional crisis that extends beyond direct exposure to armed violence. By situating these findings within the framework of Human Security Theory, the study argues that civilian protection should be understood not merely as the absence of physical violence but as the preservation of the social, institutional, and material conditions necessary for human dignity and well-being. The article concludes that sustainable peace requires integrating civilian protection and human security considerations into humanitarian responses, conflict management, and long-term peacebuilding efforts.