A group of renowned intellectuals, jurists, artists, human rights advocates, and representatives from the media and civil society organizations gathered in London last week, to launch the Gaza Tribunal – an independent initiative serving as a “court of humanity and conscience.”
“Gaza represents a breaking point in the historical journey of humanity, where a global system based on power, not justice, prevails,” the Gaza Tribunal website states. “Based on this perspective, the need to address what is happening in Gaza through its historical, political, philosophical, and legal dimensions is becoming an urgent, necessary duty for humanity.”
Led by Richard Falk, a distinguished international law expert and former UN special rapporteur on the occupied Palestinian territories, the tribunal is taking an alternative route to international justice, aiming to spotlight voices from civil society in the examination of abuses following the conflict that escalated after the October 7 Resistance operation.
Why the Need?
Despite the genocide case against Israel currently underway at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the initiative is seen as a People’s Tribunal.
“The international order’s failure in fulfilling its duty is exactly why a people’s tribunal is needed. The International Court of Justice, despite designating Israel’s current war as a genocide, is unable to enforce its rulings,” the website states.
The Gaza Tribunal, which convened for two days of initial preparatory meetings in London, brought together around 100 participants.
Who is Involved?
Some who attended the London meeting include Michael Lynk, Ilan Pappe, Jeff Halper, Ussama Makdisi, Ayhan Citil, Cornel West, Avi Shlaim, Naomi Klein, Aslı Bali, Mahmood Mamdani, Craig Mokhiber, Hatem Bazian, Mehmet Karlı, Sami Al-Arian, Frank Barat, Raji Sourani, Hilal Elver, Diana Buttu, Ahmet Köroğlu, Noura Erakat, Susan Akram, Judith Butler, Daud Abdullah, Ramzy Baraoud, Wasem Ahmed, Shahd Hammouri.
Among the participating organizations were Law for Palestine, the Palestinian Environmental NGOs Network, the Arab Network for Food Sovereignty (APN), Adalah, the Legal Center for Arab Minority Rights in Israel, Palestinian human rights organization Al-Haq, BADIL, Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights, the prisoner support and human rights group Addameer, and the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR).
What are Its Objectives?
The Gaza Tribunal has two main objectives: one particular and one universal. The particular goal is to assist in bringing the tragic events to an end as soon as possible and to hold the perpetrators accountable in the public conscience.
The universal aim is to issue a decision grounded in humanity’s intellectual and moral values, one that can serve as a reference to prevent future atrocities worldwide.