Abstract

This roundtable will examine the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip through a policy lens, focusing on how international responses are shaped by conflict dynamics, legal frameworks, and geopolitical constraints. Rather than addressing humanitarian needs in isolation, the discussion will explore how political decisions—by regional actors, donor governments, and international institutions—directly affect humanitarian outcomes on the ground.

Key themes include restrictions on humanitarian access, the role of international humanitarian law, the impact of security considerations and sanctions regimes, and the challenges of coordinating humanitarian action amid active hostilities. The roundtable will also consider the limits of existing policy tools, including emergency aid, ceasefire diplomacy, and accountability mechanisms, in responding to large-scale civilian harm and infrastructure destruction. Discussions will explore competing policy priorities—humanitarian protection, security, diplomacy, and domestic political pressures—to reflect on how humanitarian crises become embedded in broader international negotiations; and how these are navigated. The aim is to foster informed, analytical discussion on Gaza not only as a humanitarian emergency, but as a central case study in contemporary crisis management and international governance. This roundtable discussion will be of interest to policymakers and professionals concerned with developing responses to the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

About the Speaker

Ms Sigrid Kaag is a Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. During her visit, Ms. Kaag will be affiliated to the Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) Programme, Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (IDSS). Ms Kaag brings a wealth of experience in political, humanitarian, development and financial affairs. She led her political party, D66, to a successful electoral outcome in 2021 and served as the First Deputy Prime Minister and first female Minister of Finance in the Dutch government (2022-2024), Minister for Trade and Development Cooperation (2017-2021), and Minister for Foreign Affairs (2021).

Ms Kaag has held a wide range of senior positions in the United Nations system. Most recently, she served as the UN’s Under-Secretary General for the Middle East Peace Process and Humanitarian and Reconstruction Coordinator for Gaza (2024-2025). Ms Kaag was also UN Special Coordinator for Lebanon (2015-2017) and Special Coordinator of the Joint Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and the United Nations Mission in Syria (2013-2015). She served as Assistant Secretary-General with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) (2010-2013) and as Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Jordan (2007-2010). She also held senior positions in the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA).

Ms Kaag is presently Associate Professor at Sciences Po in Paris and Co-Chair of the Board of Directors of the UN Foundation amongst other public and private sector engagements.