Category Archives: Hamas

Article explaining the legal obligations associated with occupying Gaza

by Travis Normand
August 29, 2025

The following article does a pretty good job explaining the considerations and legal obligations associated with occupation and moving the civilian population.

Israel is planning to conquer Gaza City – what legal obligations will that incur?
By Jeremy Sharon, posted on August 22, 2025, at 12:05 pm and Updated at 1:21 pm, here: TimesofIsrael.com (or https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-is-planning-to-conquer-gaza-city-what-legal-obligations-will-that-incur/)

Additionally, the following is a “podcast” discussion from the Daily Briefing (Times of Israel) with host Amanda Borschel-Dan and legal and settlements reporter Jeremy Sharon.

Daily Briefing Aug. 10: Day 674 – What would Israel’s legal duties be in a Gaza City takeover?
With Amanda Borschel-Dan and Jeremy Sharon, posted on August 10, 2025, here: TimesofIsrael.com (or https://www.timesofisrael.com/daily-briefing-aug-10-day-674-what-would-israels-legal-duties-be-in-a-gaza-city-takeover/)

Articles on Hamas and Gaza

by Travis Normand
August 8, 2025

I found the following articles this past week and consider them all a “must read.”

“The Secret System Hamas Uses to Pay Government Salaries”
Posted August 6, 2025 by Rushdi Abualouf at BBC.com

“Gaza is a War; Just a War”
Posted July 15, 2025 by Andrew Fox at MrAndrewFox.substack.com

“How the Israeli government is missing the chance to defeat Hamas – opinion”
Posted August 4, 2025 by Amos Yadlin at JPost.com

“Hamas Wants Gaza to Starve”
Posted July 31, 2025 by Ahmed Fouad Alkhatib at TheAtlantic.com

Current Cease Fire “Deal” to Gaza War (as of May 7, 2024)

by Travis Normand
May 7, 2024

I found the following article that lays out, in basic terms, the current cease fire deal to the “Gaza War” (that started on Oct. 7, 2023). This is the “deal” that is currently on the table, and is apparently supported by Hamas but not by Israel. I am posting this so that you can read the basic terms of the proposed agreement. However, I am not sharing my opinions on the deal or any side of the current armed conflict.

What’s in the three-phase ceasefire deal Hamas backs, but Israel does not?
By Reuters May 7, 2024, 4:29 AM CDT
Posted on Reuters.com: https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/three-phase-ceasefire-deal-hamas-backs-israel-does-not-2024-05-06/
(Reporting by Andrew Mills in Doha and Nafisa Eltahir and Nidal al-Mughrabi in Cairo and Tala Ramadan in Dubai; Editing by Edmund Blair, Josie Kao, Michael Georgy and Alison Williams)

Queen Rania’s Comments on Human Shields

Jordan’s Queen Rania appeared on CNN and had the following comments (see the text of her comments and/or the video, posted below; with these specific comments starting at about the 5:00 minute mark of the video):

“These evacuation orders, I do not believe are for the benefit of the Gaza civiliians. They are not the target audience; the rest of the world is. It is Israel’s attempt to try to legitimize their actions.”

And when it comes to human shields, I think we need to defer to international law. Of course, the use of human shields is criminal. But even if one side uses … puts a civilian in harms way, that civilian is still entitled to full protection under international humanitarian law. That is the global standard and no nation is exempt. So before firing any bullet, before dropping any bomb, it is the responsibility of the nation to weigh the risk to civilian life, and if that risk is disproportionate to the military target then it is deemed unlawful. And frankly, I find it really outrageous when Israeli officials audaciously dismiss Palestinian casualties as human shields. In a place like Jabalia, which is one of the most crowded corners of Gaza; Gaza being one of the most densely populated spots on Earth … civilian death is not is not incidental, it is not accidental. It is a foregone conclusion, and that makes it a war crime.

Comments by Queen Rania of Jordan during interview with CNN’s Becky Anderson; posted to Twitter / “X” on November 5, 2023; see @BeckyCNN (these specific remarks start at about the 5:00 minute mark of the video).
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Is the current conflict between Israel and Hamas a NIAC or IAC?

by Travis Normand
November 7, 2023

This is a summary of (some) the substance found in two other articles, one of which I have posted/shared previously. You can find both of these articles, in their entirety, posted here:

The article by Ken Watkin dives into a lot of interesting topics (including whether this conflict could be classified as an IAC; depending on the degree of support, if any, Iran is providing to Hamas); but my point here in this post is to examine the question of whether the current conflict between Israel and Hamas is a NIAC or IAC. I am doing so by summarizing what is in the two articles posted above.

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Great Article on the current Israel / Hamas situation

by Travis Normand
November 3, 2023

I highly recommend the following article on the Israel / Hamas situation. I will post more about it (along with my thoughts) when I have more time. For now, I just wanted to share a link to the article for anyone who might be interested.