The Role of Public Diplomacy in Mobilizing International Support for the Palestinian Cause After the Aggression on Gaza Strip رسالة ماجستير

Abstract

This thesis focuses on the essential role of Public Diplomacy in presenting international support for the Palestinian cause following the 2023 Israeli aggression in the Gaza Strip. It considers how Public Diplomacy has offered a prominent avenue for mobilizing international political attitudes toward Palestine through non-state actors, digital platforms, cultural initiatives, and grassroots movements. The study utilizes a qualitative research design of case studies, media content analysis, and semi-structured interviews to investigate the dynamics of official and popular diplomacy and examine their success at restructuring international narratives about the conflict. The research demonstrates the noteworthy contributions by Palestinian journalists, social media activists, and cultural producers to contest the dominant Israeli narratives and humanize the plight of the Palestinian struggle through digital storytelling and representation in cultural productions. It highlights the challenges for a Palestinian Public Diplomacy strategy, including limited resources and funding, a biased media narrative, and organizational fragmentation. The findings show that while official diplomacy remains limited by structural politics and constraints, Public Diplomacy has demonstrated its capacity to amplify Palestinian voices, facilitate transnational solidarity, and influence humanitarian and or political responses on the global level. The research concludes with suggested strategies and recommendations for improved coordination between State Institutions and civil society