The Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria cordially invites you to a webinar on the International Law Analysis of the Conflict between Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories by Professor John Dugard.
Date: 29 November 2023
Time: 16:00 – 17:30
Background
Prof John Dugard will discuss the violation of Human Rights and International Humanitarian Law in the Occupied Palestinian Territory will provide and international law analysis of this ongoing conflict. Israel and Palestine have been marred by ongoing conflict over the past 75 years. Peace initiatives have not yielded success, the oppression and dispossession of Palestinians has continued, through the use of policies that have been compared to those exerted by South Africa’s Apartheid government.
The latest round of this ongoing conflict was triggered on 7 October 2023 when the Palestinian organisation Hamas, orchestrated an attack on Israel near Gaza, killing close to 1 200 Israelis and nationals from other countries and also keeping close to 200 people including civilians hostage. Following this attack, Israel declared war on Hamas
and sent its forces to Gaza. The aftermath has been disproportionate and has brought great suffering to Palestinian civilians estimated at a staggering 1,6 million. Many Palestinian women, children, and the elderly have been displaced and killed. Due to aerial bombings, Hospitals are out of service. Adding to the dire situation caused by fuel shortages and limited to no electricity supply. Communications have been cut and Israel continues to block food and water into Gaza. The situation has been described as a major humanitarian crisis.
About Professor John Dugard
He is an expert in International Law who has served as An Emeritus Professor of Law, Universities of Witwatersrand and Leiden. Honorary professor of law at the University of Pretoria. An Ad hoc Judge for the International Court of Justice, 2000 to 2018. Former Chair of Arab League Fact-Finding Mission on Opération Cast Lead, Gaza, 2009.
Former Chair of UN International Fact-Finding Mission on Violations of Human Rights and IHL during Second Intifada, Palestine. Special Rapporteur to the UN Commission on Human Rights Situation in Occupied Palestinian Territory, 2001-2008. 2001. Member of UN International Law Commission, 1997-2011. Director Lauterpacht Centre for International Law, Cambridge, 1995-1997. Authored Dugard’s International Law: A South African Perspective,5th ed and Confronting Apartheid. A personal history of SA, Namibia, and Palestine 2018.
For more information, please contact:
Faranaaz Veriava
u04208978@up.ac.za
