Event information

4 May 2019, 09:00-16:00
Register start 28 April 2019
Register end 3 May 2019

Public Pleadings by LLM Students on the Summer 2014 Gaza Conflict

Event

Gaza City, 2014. Palestinians check the remains of Al-Basha, a building that was destroyed by an Israeli air strike. Gaza City, 2014. Palestinians check the remains of Al-Basha, a building that was destroyed by an Israeli air strike.

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 United Nations Human Rights Council Commission of Inquiry shared its findings on violations on IHL and human rights committed during this conflict and the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) announced the opening of a preliminary investigation into the situation.

In the framework of our LLM in IHL and Human Rights and the course on IHL given by Professor Marco Sassòli, LLM students will plead for Israel and for Palestine arguing that the side they represent has respected IHL while the adverse side has violated IHL.

In front of a jury composed of Professor Marco Sassòli and Elvina Pothelet, students (whose roles were attributed by the lot) will plead on:

  • The classification of the conflict and of Gaza as a territory
  • 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

Registration

The public is welcome to attend the pleadings which will be performed in English and can register via this online form.