The Gaza Tribunal has released its final findings, stating that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza and that “Israeli perpetrators and their Western enablers” should not evade justice for their actions.
Established in London last November, the unofficial tribunal delivered its “moral judgment” on Sunday following four days of public hearings in Istanbul, Turkey. The initiative, led by Richard Falk, a former United Nations special rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories, draws from the legacy of the Russell Tribunal, which addressed U.S. war crimes in Vietnam in 1967.
Over the course of a year, the Gaza process involved gathering information, hearing testimonies from witnesses and survivors, and preserving evidence. In its ruling, the tribunal’s jury condemned the genocide in Gaza, citing crimes such as the mass destruction of residential areas, the deliberate withholding of food from civilians, torture, and the targeting of journalists.
The tribunal criticized the global governance system for failing to fulfill its responsibilities in upholding international law. It called for accountability for all “perpetrators, supporters, and enablers” and suggested that Israel should be suspended from international organizations like the United Nations.
The jury also identified Western governments, particularly the United States, as complicit in Israel’s actions through diplomatic support, military aid, intelligence sharing, and continued economic ties. Additionally, it criticized post-war plans proposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron, arguing that these initiatives disregard the rights of the Palestinian people under international law and fail to address the actions of those responsible for alleged genocide.
The tribunal emphasized that “Palestinians must lead the restoration of Gaza,” and that Israel and its allies must take responsibility for reparations. It acknowledged that the tribunal is not a legal court and does not determine guilt or liability, but rather serves as a civil society response to the conflict in Gaza.
“We believe that genocide must be named and documented, and that impunity fuels continuing violence globally,” the jurors stated. They added that “genocide in Gaza is the concern of all humanity. When states remain silent, civil society must speak out.”
Israel faces genocide allegations at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), brought by South Africa. Although a final decision may take years, the ICJ found in an interim ruling in January 2024 that it is “plausible” that Israel is violating the 1948 UN Genocide Convention. Israel has consistently denied accusations of committing genocide in Gaza.
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