MIDDLE-EAST HUMANITARIAN CRISIS : A NEED FOR UNITED NATIONS PEACE-BUILDING ENFORCEMENTS
Abstract
The State of Israel has been in the midst of armed conflicts for many decades with Palestines Hamas while Lebanonas Hezbollah and Yemens Houthi have been involved in solidarity conflict. The fresh conflicts began in October 7, 2023 when Hamas launched an unprecedented attack on Israel which took the lives of over 1000 Israelis. The conflicts have intensified with the Hezbollah and Houthi attacking Israel. Israel had carried out attacks on Lebanon and Yemen in retaliation. This ongoing conflict has greatly affected these countries stability, peace, and security, threatening further humanitarian crises. This article discusses the source of the conflict, the current situation of the conflict, and ways to resolve the conflict. In discussing the above, this article adopts a theoretical and doctrinal study of primary and secondary sources as contained in the United Nations Charter, international treaties, conventions and protocols, journal articles, books, newspapers, and materials sourced from the internet. The article argues that though, the United Nations General Assembly in September 2024 resolved that Israel should vacate Palestinian territory, there is a need for peace-building intervention and enforcement by the United Nations to forestall further humanitarian crises in the Middle East.
Keywords
Full Text:
PDFReferences
A/ES-10/L.31/Rev.1 .United Nations tenth emergency special session; agenda item 5: “Illegal Israeli actions in Occupied East Jerusalem and the rest of the Occupied Palestinian Territory†https://documents.un.org/doc/undoc/ltd/n24/266/48/pdf/n2426648.pdf accessed 1 October 2024.
Adi Hashmonai and Yaniv Kubovich., ‘IDF: 180 Rockets Fired From Lebanon at Northern Israel, Totaling 700 Since Rosh Hashanah Eve’ https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2024-10-04/ty-article/.premium/idf-180-rockets-fired-from-lebanon-at-northern-israel-totaling-700-since-wednesday/00000192-58dc-d9af-a3fb-dfdd5df90000?v=1728150119281 accessed 5, October 2024.
AL Monitor., ‘Iran launches missile attack on Israel, Israeli military says’https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2024/10/iran-launches-missile-attack-israel-israeli military-says accessed 1 October 2024.
Alastair Mccready, et.al ‘Updates: Israeli strikes hit central area of Lebanon’s Beirut, killing 22’ Aljazeera News, 10 October, 2024. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2024/10/10/live-israel-kills-medics-in-lebanon-as-siege-on-north-gaza-enters-6th-day accessed 11 October 2024.
Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project., ‘Mapping the 25 August Israel and Hezbollah attacks | ACLED Insight’. https://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep62787 accessed 7 October 2024.
Babak Kamiar., ‘What calculations stand behind Tehran's massive missile strike on Israel?’ https://www.msn.com/en-xl/africa/top-stories/what-calculations-stand-behind-tehran-s-massive-missile-strike-on-israel/ar-AA1rzQMc?ocid=msedgntp&pc=DCTS&cvid=fb3043a25a4c4344a6757cbc5df4dada&ei=34 accessed 3 October 2024.
Bar Peleg & Josh Breiner., ‘Israel Confirms It Has Killed Hamas Leader Yahya Sinwar, Mastermind of the Oct. 7 Attack’ https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2024-10-17/ty-article/.premium/israeli-army-checking-whether-hamas-leader-sinwar-among-three-terrorists-killed-in-gaza/00000192-9aad-d9c2-a7f3-9eaf8e920000?utm_source=mailchimp&utm_medium=Content&utm_campaign=israel-at-war&utm_content=3d059e85e3 accessed 19 October, 2024.
BBC News ., ‘Yemen Country profile’ https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-14704852 accessed October 11, 2024.
BBC News., ‘Lebanon country profile’ https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-14647308 accessed 11 October 2024.
Benjamin Netanyahu’s video message to the people of Lebanon on Tuesday 8, October 2024. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoN-B6mn0JI Accessed 9, October 2024.
Burrowes, Robert and Wenner, Manfred W.. ‘Yemen’. Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 Oct. 2024,
Counter Terrorism Guide, HAMAS https://www.dni.gov/nctc/groups/hamas.html#:~:text=HAMAS'%20strength%20is%20concentrated%20in,Palestinian%20territories%20since%20the%201990s. accessed 28 September, 2024.
Emmanuel Fabian., '3 lightly injured in a rocket strike on Deir al-Asad’ https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog_entry/3-lightly-injured-in-rocket-strike-on-deir-al-asad/ Accessed 5, October, 2024.
Eugenia Yousef., Eyad Kourdi, and Sophie Tanno.,’ Israel acknowledges striking UN peacekeeping base as international condemnation grows’ https://edition.cnn.com/world/live-news/israel-war-iran-palestine-lebanon-10-11-24/index.html accessed 11 October 2024.
Geoff Brumfiel., ‘Satellite images show dozens of Iranian missiles struck near Israeli air base’https://www.npr.org/2024/10/04/nx-s1-5140058/satellite-images-dozens-iranian-missiles-struck-near-israeli-air-base accessed 5 October 2024.
Imad K. Harb, ‘Israel’s Violations of the Ceasefire with Hezbollah Threaten to Undo It’ Arab Center, Washingto DC, December 10, 2024. https://arabcenterdc.org/resource/israels-violations-of-the-ceasefire-with-hezbollah-threaten-to-undo-it/ accessed 16 December, 2024.
Hana Levi Julian., ‘IDF Uncovers Hezbollah Ordnance, Vehicles in Lebanon Ready for Oct. 7-Style Attack on Northern Israel’ https://www.jewishpress.com/news/middle-east/lebanon/idf-uncovers-hezbollah-ordnance-vehicles-in-lebanon-ready-for-oct-7-style-attack-on-northern-israel/2024/10/06/ accessed 7, October 2024.
Hilal Khashan., ‘Hezbollah’s Shortsighted Strategy for the War in Gaza’ (2024) 26(2) Insight Turkey. pp.35-44.
http://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep25508. Accessed 6 October. 2024.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/9/19/unga-resolution-against-palestine-occupation-willitchangeanything#:~:text=Most%20countries%20have%20backed%20a,Wednesday%2C%20is%20not%20legally%20binding accessed 1 October 2024.
https://www.bbc.com/news/live/cg4qx62kkxxt accessed 1 October 2024.
https://www.britannica.com/place/Lebanon. Accessed 11 October 2024.
https://www.britannica.com/place/Yemen. Accessed 11 October 2024.
https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/744044-two-peacekeepers-injured-as-israel-attacks-un-base-in-lebanon.html accessed 11 October, 2024.
https://www.rand.org/pubs/commentary/2024/10/a-year-after-the-october-7-start-of-the-israel-hamas.html accessed 5 October 2024.
https://www.un.org/unispal/document/auto-insert-210229/ accessed 10 October 2024.
Hugo Bachega., ‘This Israeli ground offensive has felt almost inevitable’
ICRC., ‘“Armed Conflict†Defined in International law’? International Committee of the Red Cross Opinion Paper 2024.
International Law Association., Final Report on the Meaning of Armed Conflict in International Law. The Hague Conference (2010).p.1 https://www.rulac.org/assets/downloads/ILA_report_armed_conflict_2010.pdf accessed 6, October 2024.
Irene Nasser., Dana Karni., Helen Regan., and Sophie Tanno. ‘Israel intercepts Hezbollah ballistic missile near Tel Aviv in first such attack’ https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/25/middleeast/israel-rocket-lebanon-tel-aviv-intl-hnk/index.html?iid=cnn_buildContentRecirc_end_recirc accessed 1 October 2024.
J Paul Dunne., ‘Armed Conflict’ (2012) Copenhagen Consensus Center.p.2
Jang Ji-Hyang., ‘Israel-Hamas War: Analysis and Prospects’ (2024) Asan Institute for Policy Studies. http://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep56955. accessed 6 October. 2024.
Jonathan Lis, 'There's Progress': Israeli Sources Express Optimism Amid Hostage Negotiations. Haaretz | Israel News, December 15 2024. https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2024-12-15/ty-article/.premium/theres-progress-in-hostage-talks-israeli-sources-say/00000193-c6ea-df00-ad9b-f7ead5080000?utm_source=mailchimp&utm_medium=Content&utm_campaign=israel-at-war&utm_content=598d33d8b2 accessed 16 December, 2024.
Kabir Yusuf., ‘Two peacekeepers injured as Israel attacks UN base in Lebanon’
Kali Robinson., ‘What is Hamas?’ https://www.cfr.org/backgrounder/what-hamas Accessed 11, October, 2024.
Kylie Atwood and Jennifer Hansler., ‘Israel has given no assurances it won’t target Iran’s nuclear facilities, top State Department official tells CNN’ https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2024/10/04/politics/state-department-israel-no-assurances-irans-nuclear-facilities accessed 5, October 2024.
Laura Grassby., ‘Israel pounds parts of Beirut with airstrikes as IDF confirms rockets fired at northern port city of Haifa with at least 10 injured’ https://www.skynews.com.au/world-news/global-affairs/israel-pounds-parts-of-beirut-with-airstrikes-as-idf-confirms-rockets-fired-at-northern-port-city-of-haifa-with-at-least-10-injured/news-story/ccd6da25915183662710ff3eee74278e accessed 7, October, 2024.
Laurie R. Blank., ‘Irreconcilable Differences: The Thresholds for Armed Attack and Irreconcilable Differences: The Thresholds for Armed Attack and International Armed Conflict’ (2020) 96(1) Notre Dame Law Review. pp.249-290,258.
Maksoud, Clovis F. et.al. ‘Lebanon’. Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 Oct. 2024,
Maziar Motamedi., ‘UN votes against Israel’s occupation of Palestine: Will it change anything?’
Michael Sheils McNamee., ‘UN chief condemns Iran attack after Israel ban’ https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy43j9944lno.amp accessed 5 October 2024.
Mission of Israel to the UN in Geneva., ‘Land of milk and honey’https://embassies.gov.il/UnGeneva/AboutIsrael/Pages/AboutIsraelgeneralinfo.aspx accessed 7 October, 2024.
Murat Sofuoglu., ‘What October 7 means in the history of Israel-Palestine conflict’https://www.trtworld.com/magazine/what-october-7-means-in-the-history-of-israel-palestine-conflict-18215925 accessed 6 October 2024.
Office of the Historians., ‘Creation of Israel 1948’ https://history.state.gov/milestones/1945-1952/creation-israel accessed on 7 October 2024.
Office of the Historians., ‘Creation of Israel 1948’ https://history.state.gov/milestones/1945-1952/creation-israel accessed on 7 October 2024.
Protocol Additional to the Geneva Conventions of 12 August 1949, and Relating to the Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts.
Rabasa, Angel, et al. “Hezbollah and Hamas.†Beyond Al-Qaeda: Part 2, The Outer Rings of the Terrorist Universe, RAND Corporation, 2006, pp. 5–24. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.7249/mg430af.9. accessed 6 Oct. 2024.
RAND., ‘A Year After the October 7 Start of the Israel-Hamas Conflict’
Reuters, ‘Israel strikes Houthi targets in Yemen, killing at least four people’ https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israel-launches-strikes-yemeni-houthi-targets-2024 09-29/ accessed 1 October 2024.
Reuters., ‘Yemen's Houthis say they fired two missiles at central Israel, Israel says missile intercepted’ https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/israeli-military-says-it-intercepts-missile-fired-yemen-2024-10-07/ accessed 11 October, 2024.
Rola El Husseini., 'Hezbollah and the Axis of Refusal: Hamas, Iran, and Syria' (2010) 31(5) Third World Quarterly. pp.803-815.
Salem, Paul, et al. ‘Expert Views: What Is Needed to End the War in Gaza?’ (2024) Middle East Institute.p.17. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep58721. Accessed 6 Oct. 2024.
Seth G. Jones., et.al ‘The Coming Conflict with Hezbollah’ (2024) Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). https://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep58462 Accessed 6, October 2024.
Shai Oseran., ‘Hezbollah-Hamas Cooperation:: Motivations, Manifestations and Future Outlook’ (2013) International Institute for Counter-Terrorism (ICT). p.2. https://www.jstor.org/stable/resrep09436 accessed 7 October 2024.
Sophie Tanno., ‘Israel strikes Yemen for the first time following deadly Houthi drone attack. Here’s what we know’ https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/21/middleeast/israel-strikes-houthi-rebels-explainer-intl/index.html accessed October 1, 2024.
The Associated Press., ‘Middle East latest: Palestinian militants in Gaza fire rockets into Israel as it marks Oct. 7’ https://www.britannica.com/news/439645/d3d272d83e70d420ba547dbd7e09ef52 accessed 7 October 2024.
The German Press Agency, DPA., ‘UN: More than half a million people displaced in Lebanon’ https://www.yahoo.com/news/un-more-half-million-people-134915795.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAFy-6AAJdjDk4mcHfpKiPOR6tMEBCpH097GyBbn6cL_VjS0DW_tID-VSHJcoyyqBPxJvy3IeFsIa0JeZkLd9LBzhC375YNa-Z5DtE2WHqsQbpp2CYDqWWpXi0b-nHtQIoVuoIIkcaE2vRviypIfnxIS_k7f5M4wm2OOsUPyca-9y Accessed 5, October 2024.
The Guardian., ‘Middle East crisis live: Israeli strikes kill 61 Palestinians in Gaza, medics say; ‘thousands’ trapped in Jabaliya’ https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2024/oct/11/middle-east-crisis-live-eu-israel-iran-lebanon-blog-news-updates-hezbollah-hamas-unifil?filterKeyEvents=false&page=with:block-670994118f081a18004e504e#block-670994118f081a18004e504e accessed 11 October 2024.
UN Trade and Development., ‘Background: The Question of Palestine’ https://unctad.org/topic/palestinian-people/The-question-of Palestine#:~:text=While%20the%20State%20of%20Israel,by%20Jordan%20and%20Egypt%2C%20respectively. accessed 28 September 2024.
United Nations Press., ‘General Assembly Mulls Over Resolution Demanding End of Israel’s Occupation of Palestinian Land within 12 Months’ https://press.un.org/en/2024/ga12625.doc.htm accessed 1 October 2024.
United Nations Security Council., Protection of Civilians in Armed Conflict. Report of the Secretary-General (S/2024/385), May 14, 2024. p.3.https://www.securitycouncilreport.org/atf/cf/%7B65BFCF9B-6D27-4E9C-8CD3-CF6E4FF96FF9%7D/N2411029.pdf Accessed 6, October 2024.
United Nations., ‘Origins and Evolution of the Palestine Problem: 1917-1947 (Part I) https://www.un.org/unispal/history2/origins-and-evolution-of-the-palestine-problem/part-i1917 1947/#Origins_and_Evolution_of_the_Palestine_Problem_1917-1947_Part_I accessed 28 September 2024.
United Nations., ‘Palestine’s current status’ https://news.un.org/en/story/2024/04/1148351 accessed 7 October 2024.
United Nations., ‘The Origins and Evolution of the Palestine Problem, part IV: 1984-1988’
DOI: https://doi.org/10.33387/klj.v8i2.9355
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
Copyright (c) 2025
Khairun Law Journal is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License
Editorial Official :
Jusuf Abdulrahman, Campus II, Gambesi, Ternate City, North Maluku Indonesia.
Klj@unkhair.ac.id, WhatsApp: +6281343974566
SUPPORTED BY