Verdict from the people: Why the Gaza Tribunal is about accountability, not symbolism – Middle East Monitor

Gaza Tribunal Report: An Analysis of International Law and Sustainable Development Goals

Introduction: Civil Society and the Pursuit of Global Goals

In response to perceived inadequacies within international legal and political frameworks, the Gaza Tribunal was established by global civil society actors. Modeled on the Russell Tribunal, its mission is to document alleged crimes against the Palestinian people, thereby creating a comprehensive record for justice and accountability. The Tribunal’s final session concluded in Istanbul on October 26, following earlier hearings in London and Sarajevo. This report analyzes the Tribunal’s findings through the framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 16, which calls for peace, justice, and strong institutions.

Key Findings and Moral Judgment

The Tribunal’s Jury of Conscience issued a moral judgment based on evidence presented across three thematic chambers: International Law; International Relations and World Order; and History, Ethics, and Philosophy. The final statement accused Israel of systematic exterminatory violence. The specific crimes investigated and condemned represent severe violations of international law and present significant obstacles to achieving the SDGs.

• Genocide: The panel referenced the “holistic nature” and “dehumanization” inherent in the actions investigated.
• Starvation and Famine: The deliberate use of starvation as a weapon of war.
• Domicide: The systematic and deliberate destruction of homes and shelter.
• Ecocide: The widespread destruction of the natural environment and ecosystems.
• Reprocide: The destruction of the conditions necessary for procreation and reproduction.
• Scholasticide: The systematic destruction of educational infrastructure, personnel, and collective memory.
• Targeting of Protected Persons: The killing of journalists and medical workers.
• Systematic Human Rights Abuses: The widespread use of torture, sexual and gender-based violence, and forced disappearances in detention.

Implications for SDG 16: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

The Gaza Tribunal’s existence and findings directly address the core tenets of SDG 16. The initiative highlights a critical gap in the global governance architecture, seeking to provide an alternative path to justice where established international bodies are perceived to have failed.

1. Target 16.3 (Promote the rule of law and ensure equal access to justice): The Tribunal was convened specifically to fill a perceived legal and ethical void, functioning as a people-led mechanism to ensure that alleged war crimes do not go unrecorded or unjudged.
2. Target 16.6 (Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions): The report criticizes the paralysis of institutions like the UN Security Council, positioning the Tribunal as a civil society response to a lack of institutional accountability.
3. Target 16.A (Strengthen relevant national institutions… to prevent violence and combat terrorism and crime): The Tribunal’s indictment extends to international complicity, finding that several Western governments have been complicit or have actively colluded in the alleged crimes, thereby undermining the principles of global cooperation for peace and justice.

Violations of Socio-Economic and Environmental SDGs

The Tribunal’s findings document actions that fundamentally contravene a wide range of Sustainable Development Goals, indicating a systemic reversal of development progress and human security.

• SDG 2 (Zero Hunger): The documented use of starvation and the creation of famine conditions are a direct assault on this goal.
• SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being): The killing of medical personnel and the use of torture and sexual violence undermine the fundamental right to health.
• SDG 4 (Quality Education): The charge of “scholasticide” points to the deliberate dismantling of the educational system, preventing access to learning and destroying intellectual capital.
• SDG 5 (Gender Equality): The findings of “reprocide” and gender-based violence constitute severe attacks on the rights and well-being of women and girls.
• SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth): The killing of more journalists than in any other conflict represents an attack on safe working conditions (Target 8.8) and freedom of the press.
• SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities): The charge of “domicide” signifies the wholesale destruction of housing and urban infrastructure, making communities uninhabitable.
• SDG 13 & 15 (Climate Action & Life on Land): The finding of “ecocide” indicates severe and potentially irreversible damage to the environment, undermining local and global ecological stability.

Conclusion: The Role of Civil Society in Upholding Global Goals

The Gaza Tribunal serves as a critical case study in the role of non-state actors in upholding international norms and pursuing the Sustainable Development Goals. By creating a detailed record of alleged atrocities, the Tribunal’s work provides an indispensable resource for future legal actions at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the International Criminal Court (ICC), and national courts. This initiative underscores the importance of global partnerships (SDG 17) driven by civil society to demand accountability and advance the interconnected goals of peace, justice, and sustainable development for all.

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Addressed

1. SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

   • The article’s central theme is the failure of the “international legal and political systems” (like the UNSC, ICJ, and ICC) to provide justice and accountability. The Gaza Tribunal is presented as a civil society response to this “legal void,” directly addressing the need for justice and strong, accountable institutions.

2. SDG 2: Zero Hunger

   • The article explicitly states that the Tribunal investigated and condemned Israel for the “crimes of starvation and famine,” which directly relates to the goal of ending hunger and ensuring food security.

3. SDG 4: Quality Education

   • The Tribunal’s indictment of “scholasticide (the systematic destruction of educational facilities, personnel, and the collective memory of a people)” is a direct connection to this goal, which aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education.

4. SDG 5: Gender Equality

   • The article mentions the condemnation of “sexual violence, forced disappearances, and gender-based violence in detention,” which are critical issues addressed by the goal of achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls.

5. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

   • The concept of “domicide (the deliberate destruction of homes and shelter)” is highlighted as a crime investigated by the Tribunal. This directly opposes the goal of making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.

6. SDG 13, 14, 15: Environmental Goals (Climate Action, Life Below Water, Life on Land)

   • The article mentions the crime of “ecocide (the systematic destruction of the environment and ecosystems),” which encompasses the broad aims of the environmental SDGs to protect the planet.

Specific SDG Targets Identified

1. Target 16.1: Significantly reduce all forms of violence and related death rates everywhere.

   • The article discusses “systematic exterminatory violence,” “genocide,” and the killing of civilians, including journalists. The Tribunal’s mission to document these crimes is directly related to addressing and reducing such violence.

2. Target 16.3: Promote the rule of law at the national and international levels and ensure equal access to justice for all.

   • The article details the “utter failure to hold Israel accountable” within the existing international system and describes the Gaza Tribunal as an alternative path to “forge… what true justice in Palestine must look like,” directly addressing the need for equal access to justice.

3. Target 16.10: Ensure public access to information and protect fundamental freedoms…

   • The article condemns the “killing of journalists, the very individuals attempting to document and expose the genocide.” This is a direct assault on the fundamental freedom of the press and the public’s right to information, which this target aims to protect.

4. Target 2.1: …end hunger and ensure access by all people… to safe, nutritious and sufficient food…

   • The finding of “crimes of starvation and famine” directly contravenes this target’s objective of ensuring universal access to food.

5. Target 4.A: Build and upgrade education facilities that are… safe, non-violent, inclusive and effective learning environments for all.

   • The crime of “scholasticide,” defined as the “systematic destruction of educational facilities,” is the direct antithesis of this target.

6. Target 5.2: Eliminate all forms of violence against all women and girls…

   • The mention of “sexual violence” and “gender-based violence in detention” as investigated crimes directly aligns with the focus of this target.

7. Target 11.1: …ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing…

   • The crime of “domicide (the deliberate destruction of homes and shelter)” is a direct violation of the right to housing that this target seeks to ensure.

Indicators for Measuring Progress

1. Number of journalists killed

   • The article implies this is a key metric, stating that “more journalists have been killed than in any other conflict.” This serves as a direct indicator of the level of violence against those ensuring public access to information (Target 16.10).

2. Documented cases of specific war crimes

   • The Tribunal’s work to create a “‘people’s record’ by rigorously documenting Israeli crimes” implies that the number and nature of documented cases of domicide, scholasticide, ecocide, starvation, and gender-based violence serve as indicators of the scale of violations against various SDG targets.

3. Number of legal cases filed in national and international courts

   • The article refers to the need to “advance the many legal cases lodged against Israeli leaders, military officials, and individual soldiers.” The number and progress of these cases can be used as an indicator for measuring progress towards accountability and justice (Target 16.3).

4. Number of destroyed homes and educational facilities

   • The terms “domicide” and “scholasticide” imply that a count of destroyed homes and schools is a measurable indicator of the regression from Targets 11.1 and 4.A.

Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: middleeastmonitor.com