Publication

This report addresses the link between charitable activity and political violence with a focus on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and raises policy dilemmas related to that. The paper introduces the background of Islamic welfare activism and the Palestinian context before it continues to present an overview on the Palestinian Islamic welfare organizations. Subsequently, the paper explores the role of Islamic welfare activism during the Al-Aqsa intifada and its link to Hamas and terrorism. The paper argues that the issue needs to be addressed seriously but with careful attention to distinctions and nuances.