TIPH observes and reports on breaches of the agreements between the two parties on Hebron, as well as on violations of international humanitarian law and international human rights law. TIPH presents its findings to the Government of Israel, to Palestinian authorities and to the contributing countries.
TIPH observers are patrolling seven days a week, all year around in order to assist in the monitoring obligations in the Hebron Agreement. As a civilian observer mission, TIPH is not authorised to intervene in incidents or disputes.
TIPH relates to Hebron as one, undivided city. While security responsibilities between the Palestinian Police Forces and the Israeli Defence Forces are divided, movement of people and goods should not be restricted.
The foundations for TIPH’s mandate lie in the Oslo Agreement of September 13, 1993. Subsequently, several other agreements were signed by the two parties to create the TIPH; "Oslo II", of September 28, 1995, The Protocol Concerning Redeployment in Hebron of January 17, 1997 and The Agreement on the Temporary International Presence in the City of Hebron of January 21, 1997.
The TIPH mandate is based on an independent agreement, The Agreement on the Temporary International Presence in the City of Hebron January 21, 1997, signed by Israeli and the PLO. The TIPH mandate is renewed pending approval from the two parties every three months.
TIPH is currently staffed by personnel from Italy, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey. TIPH is financed exclusively and directly by its contributing countries.
TIPH - The Temporary International Presence in the City of Hebron
Norway, through its Embassy in Tel Aviv, is coordinating the Temporary International Presence in the City of Hebron (TIPH). TIPH is a civilian observer mission present in the city of Hebron upon invitation by the Government of Israel and the PLO to support them in their own efforts to improve the situation in the city. TIPH has existed in the present form since 1997.