Community based protection: a case of civilian protection in Palestine

In the South Hebron Hills (SHH) of the Occupied Palestinian Territories, Palestinian communities are facing an escalating threat of dispossession and forcible displacement driven by Israel and settlers. The analysis focuses on how Palestinian communities attempt to protect themselves under prolonged military occupation, highlighting the strategies they employ to strengthen community resilience and unarmed civilian protection. Attention is given to community-based practices of self-protection. The paper argues that the real strength of protective presence in SHH lies not in external actors but in the resolve of Palestinians themselves to remain on their land and continue their struggle for dignity.