17 novembre 2018: Gaza : les étudiants plaident pour Israël et pour la Palestine

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). Enquiries of the Human Rights Council, NGOs, and the Israeli Military Justice have been undertaken and the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court  is undertaking a preliminary examination.

In the framework of the course on practice in international humanitarian law (IHL) given by Prof. Marco Sassòli at the Master level at the Law Faculty, students who volunteered plead, individually or in groups, in English, for Israel and for Palestine, arguing that the side they represent has respected IHL while the adverse side has violated IHL.

These pleadings take place:

in Room MR 070 of Uni Mail (bd du Pont d’Arve 40)

on Saturday, 17 November 2018, 9:00 a.m. – noon and 2p.m. - 4 p.m.

in front of a jury composed of professors Robert Roth, Marco Sassòli and Ms. Eugénie Duss, teaching assistant of the course. Professor Roth is honorary professor, former dean of the Faculty of Law and former judge at the Special Tribunal for Lebanon.

Students (whose roles were attributed by the lot) will plead on issues such as:

• The classification of the conflict and of Gaza as an occupied territory
• Hamas rocket attacks and Israeli attacks against the Gaza Strip
• Were the Israeli warnings of the civilian population before its attacks sufficient?
• Was the principle of proportionality respected and were all feasible precautions to avoid civilian deaths, injury and damages taken?
• The Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip and the hindering of humanitarian assistance

The public is welcome to assist to the pleading.