experts
Zaha Hassan
Fellow, Middle East Program

about


Zaha Hassan is a human rights lawyer and a fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Her research focus is on Palestine-Israel peace, the use of international legal mechanisms by political movements, and U.S. foreign policy in the region. Previously, she was the coordinator and senior legal advisor to the Palestinian negotiating team during Palestine’s bid for UN membership, and was a member of the Palestinian delegation to Quartet-sponsored exploratory talks between 2011 and 2012.

She regularly participates in track II peace efforts and is a contributor to The Hill and Haaretz. Her commentaries have appeared in the New York Times, Salon, Al Jazeera English, CNN, and others.


education
BA, Political Science and Near East Languages and Civilizations, University of Washington, Seattle, JD, University of California, Berkeley, School of Law, LLM, Transnational and International Law, Willamette University School of Law
featured work
commentary
Why the United States Can’t Ignore the ICJ Case Against Israel

Too much is at stake: too many Palestinian and Israeli lives, too much U.S. credibility, and too high the risk of regional conflagration.

article
For Palestinians, the “Day After” Starts With a Plan for Ending Israel’s Occupation

Until the international community is ready to bridge the gap between Israel’s and Palestine’s plans for Gaza’s future, day-after negotiations only serve to distract from ending the bombardment and the urgent humanitarian crisis now.

paper
Breaking the Israel-Palestine Status Quo

A new U.S. approach should prioritize protecting the rights and human security of Palestinians and Israelis over maintaining a peace process and attempting short-term fixes.

All work from Zaha Hassan

filters
73 Results
In The Media
in the media
Beyond ‘Bomb, Rebuild and Repeat’ in Gaza

What will bring stability and security for both Israelis and Palestinians, reduce the likelihood of recurring violence, and open the possibility for a future in which the people of the region can live together as neighbors in equal dignity—that is, what ought to be meant by the “day after”—requires a plan for realizing Palestinian self-determination.

· November 5, 2024
International Centre for Dialogue Initiatives
In The Media
in the media
In Brief: Why the Gaza Peace Talks Have So Far Failed

After nearly 11 months of war in Gaza, negotiations towards a ceasefire deal have so far failed.

  • +1
  • Zaha Hassan
  • Oren Barak
  • Yousef Munayyer
  • Yael Mizrahi-Arnaud
· August 28, 2024
War on the Rocks
In The Media
in the media
As Gaza War Is Largely Ignored on DNC Stage, Doubts Grow over Blinken’s Claims on Ceasefire Talks

The Israeli military has ordered new forced evacuations in parts of central Gaza, signaling the expansion of ground operations and the latest displacement of Palestinians, many of whom have already been displaced multiple times over the course of Israel’s war on the territory. 

· August 21, 2024
Democracy Now!
A row of people in judges' outfits exiting a podium
commentary
The ICJ’s Paradigm Shift on Palestine

Its opinion, though nonbinding, shattered the entire framework for U.S. engagement on Israel-Palestine peace.

· July 25, 2024
In The Media
in the media
What Might a Future Palestinian State Look Like?

As negotiations for an Israel-Hamas ceasefire continue, discussions are slowly beginning to focus on what happens next — and what a future Palestinian state might look like.

· June 12, 2024
The Current Podcast (CBC)
event
Governing Gaza After the War
February 29, 2024

What will be the fate of Gazans, who will govern them, and how? What role do regional and global powers play? How can the international community take steps toward a more peaceful future for all involved? Join our panel of experts on different perspectives towards governing Gaza.

commentary
Governing Gaza After the War: Palestinian Debates

In the second of this four-part series, experts analyze Palestinian outlooks on what happens after the fighting abates.

  • +3
· February 9, 2024
In The Media
in the media
The Icj Ruling on Gaza Is a Wake-up Call for Washington – Biden Has to Take Note

To avoid the charge of complicity in genocide, the US administration must step up measures to restrain Israel.

· January 26, 2024
The Guardian
commentary
Why the United States Can’t Ignore the ICJ Case Against Israel

Too much is at stake: too many Palestinian and Israeli lives, too much U.S. credibility, and too high the risk of regional conflagration.

· January 18, 2024
article
For Palestinians, the “Day After” Starts With a Plan for Ending Israel’s Occupation

Until the international community is ready to bridge the gap between Israel’s and Palestine’s plans for Gaza’s future, day-after negotiations only serve to distract from ending the bombardment and the urgent humanitarian crisis now.

· December 22, 2023