FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM AND THE HUMAN RIGHTS CONCERN: A CASE STUDY OF ISRAEL AND HAMAS CONFLICT IN GAZA STRIP

Abstract

Terrorism includes criminal acts intended or circulated to provoke a state of terror in the general public which acts are unjustifiable in any circumstance by whatever considerations. In recent times terrorism has increased exponentially in different parts of the world where hitherto it never occurred. The brazen style of attack on Israel by Hamas terrorists and eventual counter measures by Israel led to war against Hamas terrorist in the Gaza. The pursuit of the war further led to quantum violation of fundamental rights and how peoples’ basic freedoms have been affected in the course of the war in the Gaza are evaluated. The work critically examined the fight against terrorism and human rights concern particularly the fight against Hamas by Israel in response to the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel by Hamas. The doctrinal research methodology was adopted. It was found that the October 7th Hamas terrorists attack on Israel violated the Isrealis human rights without justification and further resulted in egregious repression of fundamental rights and basic freedoms of the inhabitants of the Gaza Strip. It was concluded that Hamas invasion of Israel on October 7th, 2023 and the corresponding reprisal attack and further war by Israeli Defence Force (IDF) against the Hamas in Gaza have occasioned continual repression of human rights and fundamental freedoms. Such as the rights to life, dignity of human person, privacy fair trial, education, health; and rights against torture, and so on. It is recommended that Israel adopts counter-terrorism strategies that will not violate human rights and fundamental freedoms in Gaza.