The Gaza Tribunal is an international civil society initiative established as a people’s tribunal to evaluate Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip within the framework of international law. First announced in November 2024 in London, the Tribunal was launched by a coalition of legal experts, academics, human rights advocates, and representatives of civil society organizations.
The first public session of the Gaza Tribunal initiative took place on May 26, 2025 (Anadolu Agency)
Foundation Process and Underlying Principles of the Initiative
The Gaza Tribunal initiative was established in response to the failures in enforcing international law following the military conflict in the Gaza Strip after October 7, 2023. The Tribunal was officially launched through a two-day preparatory meeting held in London in November 2024, attended by approximately 100 participants. The initiative is chaired by Richard Falk, an international law expert and former United Nations Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in the Palestinian territories.
The core objective of the Tribunal has been to produce legal and moral documentation based on civilian testimonies, particularly in cases where state-based judicial mechanisms have proven ineffective. In this respect, the initiative defines itself as a people’s tribunal intended to complement the gaps left by institutions such as the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
The Tribunal aims to establish a framework in which not only states but also peoples can contribute to the development of international law. Its legitimacy is intended to be drawn not from governmental authority, but from the shared conscience of humanity. Inspired by the anti-Apartheid movement in South Africa, the initiative prioritizes mobilizing global civil society in the face of systemic injustice.
Participants and Institutional Components
The organizational structure of the Gaza Tribunal consists of a Steering Committee, Advisory Councils, and issue-focused Chambers. The Steering Committee includes internationally recognized legal scholars, academics, and activists such as Michael Lynk, Hilal Elver, Noura Erakat, Susan Akram, John Reynolds, Diana Buttu, Cemil Aydın, and Penny Green.
During the London meeting, special sessions were held with Palestinian civil society organizations, which were officially designated as direct contributors to the Tribunal’s process. Among these organizations are Law for Palestine, Al-Haq, Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights, Adalah, BADIL Resource Center, Addameer, and the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR). The initiative has also received institutional support from the Islamic Cooperation Youth Forum (ICYF), through which 50 youth organizations from member states and 16 representing Muslim minorities have taken part in the proceedings.
The Tribunal’s coordination has been facilitated by an Executive Secretariat, which has adopted the principle of transparency in its communication with the press and the public. Ahmet Köroğlu has been reported to serve as the Executive Secretary in charge of organizing activities.
Preparatory Meetings and Strategic Processes
Following its initial announcement, the Gaza Tribunal initiative was structured through a series of preparatory meetings held in different countries. These meetings aimed both to strengthen organizational capacity and to establish the legal and ethical framework of the Tribunal.
The first extended meeting took place in London on February 20–21, 2025. During this gathering, Tribunal members, members of Chamber II, and representatives of the Steering Committee convened to work on principles of strategic coordination. This meeting was also instrumental in defining the scope of the Tribunal’s first public session planned for Sarajevo.
Subsequently, on February 10, 2025, a series of strategic consultations was held in Istanbul. These sessions focused on analyzing current developments, clarifying the legal framework, and preparing public communications. Richard Falk was joined in the Istanbul meetings by Executive Secretary Ahmet Köroğlu and Steering Committee members Hilal Elver and Penny Green.
In May 2025, a meeting held in Alicante, Spain, concentrated on the logistical aspects of the process. The agenda included discussion on the format of reports for the Sarajevo public session, media strategy, and the collection of witness testimonies. Through these meetings, preparations were finalized in both substantive and technical terms.
Throughout the preparatory phase, the initiative aimed not only to document ongoing violations, but also to develop a normative framework for preventing the recurrence of similar situations. All materials produced during the meetings were archived and submitted to the Tribunal’s expert jury for presentation during the Sarajevo and Istanbul sessions.
Methodological Characteristics and Legal Standing
The Gaza Tribunal has been structured independently of any state authority, international institution, or political influence. While its adjudication procedures are aligned with the universal principles of international law, the Tribunal primarily relies on conscience-based judicial practices rooted in direct civil society participation.
The Tribunal’s methodological framework is based on field testimonies, expert statements, document analyses, and academic reports. The Steering Committee and the Jury of Conscience render decisions grounded in legal norms and evidentiary standards; however, these decisions do not carry formal judicial enforceability. Instead, their primary purpose is to exert ethical influence and shape international public opinion.
The initiative’s international positioning extends beyond scrutinizing Israel’s actions in Gaza. It also seeks to raise broader ethical debates on war crimes, policies of ethnic cleansing, and allegations of genocide. Accordingly, the Tribunal defines itself not only within the context of Palestine, but also as a platform capable of contributing to the evolution of global conscience-based jurisprudence.
Sarajevo Session and the Principle of Public Transparency
The Gaza Tribunal’s first public session commenced on May 26, 2025, in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. The proceedings were held at the campus of the International University of Sarajevo (IUS), marking the Tribunal’s transition from the preparatory phase to its implementation stage.
The first public session of the Gaza Tribunal initiative took place on May 26, 2025 (Anadolu Agency)
The Tribunal was structured to be fully open to the public, with all sessions broadcast live through digital platforms. This arrangement was implemented in line with the Tribunal’s principle of transparency, aiming to ensure global accessibility and public engagement in the process.
The first day of the Sarajevo session was conducted under the International Law Chamber and featured a series of expert panels and witness presentations. Sessions titled “The Nakba and Colonial Genocide,” “Patterns of Genocide,” and “Specific Acts” provided legal, historical, and theoretical analyses of the ongoing situation.
The first public session of the Gaza Tribunal initiative took place on May 26, 2025 (Anadolu Agency)
During this session, field researchers, healthcare professionals, and local civil society representatives working in Gaza gave testimonies based on direct observations and personal experiences. Their accounts addressed the protection of civilians, forced population transfers, and practices of apartheid. Ethical and philosophical dimensions of the Tribunal were also integrated into the first day’s proceedings. Based on these witness narratives, documentation efforts were initiated, with the intention of archiving these materials for examination in future sessions.
The second day’s hearings are currently underway. In the coming days, the Tribunal’s thematic agenda is expected to expand to include topics such as “geopolitics,” “political economy,” “ethics and philosophy,” and the “historical context.” It has also been announced that a “Sarajevo Declaration” will be issued at the conclusion of the sessions.
