Palestinian Return Centre Conference in London Calls for Global Accountability Over Gaza Genocide
Leading academics, legal experts, medical professionals, and journalists gathered in London for the Palestinian Return Centre’s (PRC) annual conference, Genocide: The Global Responsibility Towards Gaza, to examine Israel’s assault on Gaza and the international response. The event focused on legal accountability, humanitarian conditions, and strategies for global advocacy.
Legal Challenges in Addressing Genocide
A key discussion centred on the selective application of international law regarding genocide. Experts highlighted political barriers that prevent accountability, particularly the role of Western powers in shielding Israel from legal consequences.
- Richard Falk, Professor Emeritus of International Law at Princeton University, underscored the gap between international legal principles and their enforcement, particularly in cases where global superpowers are involved.
- Nimer Sultany, Reader in Public Law at SOAS University, pointed to the stark contrast between the swift legal action against Myanmar and the reluctance to act on Gaza, despite its unprecedented level of destruction.
- Neve Gordon, Professor of International Law at Queen Mary University, examined how Israel’s legal justifications for military strikes on civilian infrastructure manipulate international frameworks.
- Lara Alborno, a Palestinian-American lawyer, criticised Western media for reducing the issue to a legal debate rather than acknowledging clear evidence of genocide.
Experts emphasised that unless political interests cease to obstruct legal mechanisms, Israel will continue to operate with impunity.
Firsthand Testimonies: Gaza’s Reality Amid War
The second panel provided harrowing accounts of the humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. Medical professionals and journalists described the decimation of infrastructure, the collapse of healthcare services, and targeted attacks on civilians.
- Dr. Mads Gilbert, a Norwegian emergency medicine expert, presented statistics detailing the destruction:
- 69% of Gaza’s infrastructure destroyed
- 80% of commercial buildings wiped out
- 68% of roads severely damaged
- 91% of the population facing food insecurity
- 1.9 million people displaced
- Dr. Ahmed El Mokhallalati described how hospitals are barely functioning amid a severe shortage of medical supplies, with over 500 healthcare workers killed in Israeli attacks.
- Ahmad Al-Nawq, a Palestinian journalist, reported on the systematic targeting of media figures, including the deaths of prominent journalists and poets. He called for urgent international protection for journalists documenting war crimes.
- Dr. Wissam Amer, Dean of Gaza University’s Faculty of Communication, highlighted the destruction of educational institutions, with 50% of schools bombed. Despite the devastation, online education initiatives continue as a form of resistance.
Panellists urged international organisations to move beyond statements of concern and take concrete action to stop the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Global Solidarity: From Advocacy to Action
The final panel addressed international efforts to hold Israel accountable and push for Palestinian rights through legal, political, and economic measures.
- Dr. Nadia Naser-Najjab, a Senior Lecturer in Palestine Studies at the University of Exeter, condemned normalisation efforts that seek to pacify Palestinian resistance under the pretext of “dialogue and coexistence.”
- Gracia Caricchia, Deputy Regional Director at Amnesty International, shared the latest findings on Israel’s violations, revealing that global advocacy efforts have gained traction, with:
- 1.25 million social media engagements
- 365,000 petition signatures
- Actions in 21 countries
- Mira Nasir, Legal Officer at the International Centre of Justice for Palestine (ICJP), outlined lawsuits filed against Israel and its allies, including:
- War crimes complaints in UK courts
- Legal challenges against British arms sales to Israel
- Calls for a complete arms embargo
- Nuvpreet Karla, a campaigner from Code Pink, emphasised the importance of BDS (Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions) campaigns, highlighting corporate complicity in Israel’s military actions and urging economic pressure as an effective tool.
Urgent Call for Global Action
As Israel’s war on Gaza continues, conference speakers reinforced the necessity of sustained action, stressing that symbolic solidarity is not enough. Urging the international community to escalate efforts, they called for:
- Immediate war crimes prosecutions against Israeli officials
- Diplomatic pressure on governments complicit in Israel’s military actions
- Support for independent journalism to counter Israeli propaganda
- Expansion of BDS campaigns to weaken Israel’s financial support
The conference concluded with a clear message: global inaction enables further atrocities. Unless international mechanisms for accountability are enforced, Israel will continue its violations against Palestinians with impunity.
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