Plaidoiries en faveur d’Israël et la Palestine concernant Gaza - 4 mai 2019

Public pleadings by students of the Geneva Academy on the summer 2014 Gaza conflict

The conflict in and around Gaza in July/August 2014, called by Israel « Operation Protective Edge », claimed many civilian victims and gave rise to numerous mutual accusations of violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL).  In 2015 a UN  Commission of Inquiry made its findings on violations on IHL and Human Rights committed in this conflict public and the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) announced the opening of a preliminary investigation into the situation.

In the framework of the course on IHL given by Prof. Marco Sassòli of the Law Faculty for the Master in Advanced Studies in International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights of the Geneva Academy of International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights (of which he is the director), students will plead for Israel and for Palestine arguing that the side they represent has respected IHL while the adverse side has violated IHL. These pleadings will take place

at the Villa Moynier (rue de Lausanne 120B)

on Saturday, 4 May, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m

In front of a jury composed of Professor Marco Sassòli and Ms. Elvina Pothelet doctoral student and course assistant, students (whose roles were attributed by the lot) will plead in English on:

• The classification of the conflict, of Gaza as an occupied territory and the applicable law,
• The blockade of Gaza and Israel’s obligations concerning humanitarian needs,
• The targeting of persons and objects and weapons used,
• Proportionality and precautions in attacks,
• The opportunities and obstacles of criminal proceedings before the ICC

The public is welcome to attend the pleadings.