Description
On July 19, 2024, the International Court of Justice issued an Advisory Opinion declaring the Israeli occupation of the West Bank unlawful. In collaboration with legal scholars, geoscientists, and human rights practitioners, SITU Research developed a machine learning model using remote sensing data to visualize systematic land dispossession in the West Bank. Harnessing four decades of Landsat imagery and high-resolution aerial photography, our model maps the transition of Palestinian olive groves to Israeli vineyards through NDVI analysis, creating a temporal and spatial record of dispossession. Our aim is to create a repository of visual evidence for future litigation by addressing a central question: how can we leverage the perceived objectivity of scientific method and the machine-eye to legitimize the copious testimony of Palestinian farmers routinely dismissed by Israeli courts? This presentation will explore how interdisciplinary collaboration can amplify geospatial visualizations to challenge systemic injustices and open new paths to accountability.
