When the world’s institutions collapse into silence and governments turn their backs, it is often ordinary people who step forward. That is exactly what we witnessed in London. Academics, writers, human rights defenders, journalists, and civil society voices sat side by side, united by one purpose… To launch the Gaza Tribunal. Gaza Tribunal News — born from conscience, carried by people, aimed at justice.
This Tribunal carries no flag, no state emblem, no political stamp. No hidden sponsors whisper in its ear. What it carries instead is far heavier and far more meaningful… The conscience of people who refuse to be silent, the voices of survivors demanding to be heard… The determination of those who know that justice can only live if someone dares to keep its door open.
One account of the launch captured its essence clearly: “The Gaza Tribunal was established to examine the legal, political, and ethical aspects of what is happening in Gaza.” Read more – Gaza Tribunal →
A Gathering in London
The first preparatory meetings of the Gaza Tribunal took place in London. Over two intense days, participants mapped out logistics, discussed organizational structures, and set the principles for how the court will function. This was not just another meeting around a table — it marked the birth of something different. A court built not on the authority of states but on the conscience of ordinary people. That is what gives weight to the story we now know as Gaza Tribunal News.
The initiative is being guided by Richard Falk, the former UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Palestine, a man whose voice for justice has echoed for decades. Standing with him are Michael Lynk and Hilal Elver, both seasoned legal minds shaped by years of work at the United Nations. From academia, voices such as Noura Erakat, Susan Akram, Ahmet Köroğlu, John Reynolds, Diana Buttu, Cemil Aydın, and Penny Green stepped in to form the leadership team. Each of them adds not just expertise but also a moral compass to the path the Tribunal has chosen.
Building Gaza Tribunal News Through Global Solidarity
The Tribunal also brings together an extraordinary roster of members from across the globe: historian Ilan Pappé, anthropologist Jeff Halper, historian Ussama Makdisi, philosopher Ayhan Çitil, activist scholar Cornel West, historian Avi Shlaim, journalist Naomi Klein, and many others including Aslı Bali, Mahmood Mamdani, Craig Mokhiber, Hatem Bazian, Mehmet Karlı, Sami Al Arian, Farank Barat, Hassan Jabareen, Willy Mutunga, Victor Kattan, and Victoria Brittain. Each name adds credibility, but more importantly, each one reflects a willingness to put their reputation on the line for truth.
From the very start, civil society voices took their place at the heart of the Gaza Tribunal News. Every testimony they bring, every detail they document, pushes the Tribunal closer to the truth. And because of their involvement, Gaza Tribunal News doesn’t stop at being a headline — it becomes a living archive of survival, resistance, and the demand for justice.
The Road Ahead: Sarajevo and Istanbul
The Tribunal is not designed to linger endlessly, unlike many international trials. Its calendar is precise and urgent. The next stage is set for Sarajevo in May 2025. There, investigators will bring forward their reports, expert witnesses will share their findings. Making sure the process never drifts into abstraction but stays painfully real and human. In moments like these, Gaza Tribunal News reminds the world that behind every document and testimony stands a life that cannot be ignored.
The final and most crucial stage will be in Istanbul in October 2025. Here, the Tribunal will hear survivor testimonies and witness accounts, leading to the drafting of a verdict against Israel.
As one report noted, “The court will rely on the conscience of the people, and its rulings will be made in their name.”Read more – Gaza Tribunal →
Why It Matters
The Gaza Tribunal was born from a gap — a space left behind by global institutions that either hesitate or fail to act. The ICC and the ICJ remain tied up in politics or lengthy procedures, leaving victims waiting for decades. By contrast, the Gaza Tribunal offers something else. An alternative forum, independent and people-driven, determined to document crimes, give victims a voice, and deliver judgments in real time.
It is not an alternative to the ICC or ICJ, but rather a complement. Where those bodies stall, this Tribunal steps in, creating a moral and legal record that the world cannot ignore. Its transparent process, independence from power, and reachable timeline make it unique.
Final Thoughts
The Gaza Tribunal carries no army, no state authority, and no political shield. Yet it carries something far stronger: human will. In the face of despair, it insists on hope. In the face of silence, it insists on voice. And in the face of overwhelming power, it insists on conscience.
As the process moves from London to Sarajevo to Istanbul, the world will be watching. What began as a gathering of committed individuals may well grow into one of the most important acts of collective resistance against impunity in our time.
Published By Besa Gaza Tribunal