GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — In an effort to combat intolerance and promote dialogue, independent civil society organizations in the Gaza Strip are organizing youth debates for Palestinian youth and university students.

The debates, where each youth team presents opposing viewpoints on a specific political, social or economic hypothesis suggested by the organizing party, are judged by a panel of jurists composed of civil servants, lawyers, writers or academics. The jury selects the winning team based on who presented the stronger and more convincing argument.

The Filastiniyat Foundation, a local media association aimed at promoting the active participation of Palestinian women and youth on all decision-making levels, encourages debates in Palestinian society through the annual Debate Tournament for Gaza Universities.

Wafa Abdel Rahman, the foundation’s director, told Al-Monitor that the foundation has been organizing the annual tournament between five Palestinian universities in Gaza for the past five years. It is funded by Socialist International, a global organization of social democratic, socialist and labor parties. Socialist International currently brings together 140 political parties and organizations from all over the world.