GU-Q talk discusses why international law can be tool to achieve accountability for Palestinians

Doha, Qatar: During a public talk at Georgetown University in Qatar (GU Q), Palestinian American human rights attorney Noura Erakat presented a critic...

Doha, Qatar: During a public talk at Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q), Palestinian-American human rights attorney Noura Erakat presented a critical analysis of international law’s potential and limitations as a tool for change, focusing on the International Court of Justice (ICJ)’s interim decision in the case against Israel.

Erekat is an Associate Professor at Rutgers University, co-founding editor of Jadaliyyah with Dr. Bassam Haddad, and the author of Justice For Some: Law and the Question of Palestine, scholarly work and advocacy that has made her a critical voice to Palestinians and the struggle for liberation.

Dr. Noha Aboueldahab, Assistant Professor of International Law, moderated the discussion, which continued GU-Q’s efforts to provide a platform for scholars from all disciplines to offer insights on key issues.

In her talk, Professor Erakat acknowledged disappointment that the ICJ decision did not impose a ceasefire, but said there has been too little emphasis on the impact that it did have, arguing, “The ICJ provided a tool to agitate for a ceasefire.” The Court rejected every single one of Israel’s arguments, including that this was a legitimate war of self-defense. This has prompted individual countries to impose weapons sanctions, sever diplomatic ties, and initiate criminal cases under universal jurisdiction.

In Prof. Erakat’s perspective as a critical legal scholar, the ICJ’s conclusions also rejected Israel’s long-standing “exception legal framework,” based on sui generis (Latin for unlike anything else), which has been used to justify new laws that not only shrink who can be counted as a civilian but perpetuate the use of lethal military force.