"You have heard...But I tell you..."

This is my time in the Occupied West Bank this summer. It's my medium of processing and recording what I am witnessing and observing. I am realizing that there is a lot that I have heard and been taught which does not line up with the reality I am experiencing. My internet access is sporadic at best, but I'll try be faithful and pray you will be too. If you have any comments, questions or want to hear more email me at juliainpalestine@gmail.com I'd love to hear from you!
Wed Jul 2
The street in a Nablus Refugee Camp. 35,000 call this home. And that’s only in this particular camp, not the two others right next to it. Palestinian refugees are without international legal protection. Such protection, provided to other refugees under UNHCR’s mandate, ordinarily includes intervening with states to ensure refugees’ basic human rights and to promote agreements to implement durable solutions for refugees. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordinarily has jurisdiction over claims that a state has violated provisions of the Refugee Convention. However, only states—and, theoretically, a UN body—can bring claims before the ICJ. With no state to raise their claims, and without a UN body with a protection mandate over them, Palestinian refugees have no access to the ICJ. -Susan Akram, “Palestinian Refugee Rights”

The street in a Nablus Refugee Camp. 35,000 call this home. And that’s only in this particular camp, not the two others right next to it. Palestinian refugees are without international legal protection. Such protection, provided to other refugees under UNHCR’s mandate, ordinarily includes intervening with states to ensure refugees’ basic human rights and to promote agreements to implement durable solutions for refugees. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) ordinarily has jurisdiction over claims that a state has violated provisions of the Refugee Convention. However, only states—and, theoretically, a UN body—can bring claims before the ICJ. With no state to raise their claims, and without a UN body with a protection mandate over them, Palestinian refugees have no access to the ICJ. -Susan Akram, “Palestinian Refugee Rights”