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About the event

What does it mean when displacement is not a side effect of conflict but a system of governance? This event opens the door to one of today’s most urgent questions. Drawing on the new DIIS report 'The anatomy of displacement', it examines how forced movement in Gaza, the West Bank and South Lebanon has developed into a structural and politically engineered condition that reshapes lives, geographies and futures. We explore how the uprooting of communities is not an accidental outcome of war but part of a long-standing strategy of governance by the Israeli state, historically rooted and repeatedly reinforced in the present. Through insight-driven analysis, archival material, testimonies and forward-looking discussion, the event investigates why displacement persists, how it is produced, and where pathways to accountability and protection may lie. It offers a rare chance to move beyond crisis headlines and understand the deeper forces at work. Join us to uncover how history shapes the present and why understanding displacement as intentional is key to imagining a different future.

Key takeaways

• Displacement is structural, not incidental: The report shows that displacement across Gaza, the West Bank and Lebanon is a deliberate and long-standing governance strategy rather than a humanitarian by-product of conflict.
  
  
• Coercive tools shape population movement: From forced evacuations and starvation-induced displacement in Gaza to settler violence, demolitions and administrative fragmentation in the West Bank, basic needs and security are transformed into mechanisms of control.
  
  
• Humanitarian aid is insufficient: Addressing displacement requires coordinated legal, political and institutional action focused on accountability, protection and the right of return—far beyond emergency relief alone.

Practical information

The seminar will be held in English. Participation is free of charge but registration is required via our registration form. The seminar will take place at Aalborg University Copenhagen, A. C. Meyers Vænge 15, 2450 København SV. Room will be announced later. For practical questions, please contact event@diis.dk.