The politicization of humanitarian action in armed conflicts: reflections on Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and the Palestine-Israel conflict

Abstract

Humanitarian action nowadays is challenged from a variety of actors and situations. Among the most important ones are considered the interference of political motivations from donor governments. The nexus between the political sphere and the humanitarian field is undeniable, but the different approaches to humanitarian actions from organizations establish the level of their compliance with the fundamental humanitarian principles. Many organizations maintain very rigorous policies, while others allow a level of deviation from the fundamental humanitarian principles. The catastrophic consequences of armed conflicts to the population in the Gaza Strip and in Ukraine verify that the need for humanitarian access is of pivotal importance. The provision of humanitarian assistance faces in most circumstances obstacles and challenges that obstruct its purposes. EU provides great amount of funding to humanitarian organizations in order to assist civilian populations in the Gaza Strip and in Ukraine, but EU’s humanitarian actions are not entirely separated from its foreign interests. The US, similarly contributes to Ukraine with financial support and military equipment. As far as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is concerned, the US provides immediate relief aid to the population in the Gaza Strip, whilst its close relationship with Israel impels the US to support Israel not only financially, but also politically and strategically. Both actors influence at a certain level the humanitarian affairs, by attempting to promote their foreign policies. However, EU and the US remain the two largest donors worldwide, contributing significantly to the humanitarian operations. Nevertheless, humanitarian actions cannot remain intact from the major donors’ interests, resulting in the politicization of them.