International law expert and this year’s Peace Prize recipient, Philippe Sands, acknowledges that crimes have been committed in the Gaza Strip but declines to classify them as genocide. Speaking to publications from the “Redaktionsnetzwerk Deutschland,” Sands stated, “What is clear to me is that crimes were committed in Gaza. I am simply not in a position to give them a definitive legal label yet.”
As an attorney who represents various states in international courts regarding genocide, Sands is currently involved in significant cases. He represents Gambia, which brought a genocide charge against Myanmar’s government concerning the Rohingya to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). Sands noted that the upcoming ruling could be the first time a country is held legally responsible for genocide. Furthermore, this case is expected to be highly influential in South Africa’s lawsuit against Israel, which also alleges genocide.
Regarding the massacres by Hamas that triggered the Gaza conflict three years ago, Sands asserted that “international law violations occurred on October 7, 2023.” Accepting Israel’s claim of self-defense, he added that, like any nation, Israel has the right to protect itself against such attacks. However, he cautioned that this right does not equate to the ability to “do whatever it wanted.” He concluded that only the courts can determine if specific rules of international law were violated during the Gaza War.
The jurist also criticized what he saw as double standards behind South Africa’s lawsuit against Israel at the UN Court. He stated that, “South Africa sues Israel, yet simultaneously invites Putin or Lavrov, even though Russia is deliberately attacking civilians.” Sands observed that this practice is common in international law, lamenting that “double standards exist everywhere.” He extended this critique to Ukraine, noting that while the country is being attacked by Russia, it simultaneously tries “to arrange things with the United States, even though Washington itself has kidnapped foreign government representatives and attacked Iran, which is also against international law.”
Sands is set to receive the Peace Prize from the German Booksellers Association on October 11th.
