Drawing on her research on the political economy of health in Gaza – funded by UKRI and GCRF – and her doctoral research on higher education at the University of Cambridge’s Faculty of Education, Dr Jebril emphasises the urgent need to empower individuals and communities – both within and beyond formal institutions – who often face prolonged challenges alone.
“Thinking innovatively on how to empower individuals and groups (on both institutional and noninstitutional levels) in the Gaza Strip and conflict-affected zones, is a practical necessity that could be lifesaving at times of war and crises,” said Dr Jebril.
Recommendations for responding to the health challenges faced by the population of the Gaza Strip
The 16-page policy brief, entitled ‘Innovative Dimensions for Health Resilience amidst War and Humanitarian Crises in Gaza and Beyond’ calls for:
- an International War and Crisis Consultation (IWCC) Lab to facilitate collaboration between local actors and international experts
- conflict-sensitive contingency planning that supports both formal and grassroots health and humanitarian responses
- investment in creative education that fosters resilience and adaptive problem-solving skills
Dr Jebril’s research demonstrates how self-organising initiatives are responding to the health challenges faced by the population of the Gaza Strip. In understanding how ‘commons’ type effects can emerge under such conditions, this research is both theoretically innovative and practically vital.
Dr Jebril stresses that while ending the war and restoring formal aid and health services are essential, the reality that formal channels may be impeded, delayed or overwhelmed makes it crucial to empower people to develop innovative, locally driven solutions to save lives and sustain health in conflict zones. “I urge policymakers and humanitarian actors to adopt these recommendations and generate new ideas to support health resilience in Gaza and beyond,” she added.
Featured research
Jebril, M. (2025) Innovative Dimensions for Health Resilience amidst War and Humanitarian Crises in Gaza and Beyond. Cambridge: Centre for Business Research.
Photograph credit: Jaber Jehad Badwan, CC BY-SA 4.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
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