ICJ Roundtable: South Africa v. Israel and Beyond


Convened by Carolina Bertazolli, & Rohit Sarma

Is there hope for international law? Or do we need to reconceptualize the rules imposed by the international community? What does the ICJ order in the South Africa v. Israel case mean for the Palestinian struggle? What does it mean for the future of international law? 

International law has long been in a state of crisis. Toothless judgments, non-binding decisions, and disregard on the part of states plague the institution. The Israeli occupation, obfuscated as it is by the Western media, provides a glaring example of the law’s complicity and inability to prevent everyday illegalities. That said, in a context where global North actors have fallen head over heels in support of the ongoing Genocide, the imperfect institution of international law has emerged as a site of struggle. What can this site promise? What are its limits? 

In this session, we discuss the ICJ orders in the South Africa v. Israel case and assess its impacts on the Palestinian struggle and the future of International law. To guide us through the discussion, we are joined by Ata Hindi and Shadh Hammouri.   

Shahd is a lecturer at the University of Kent. Her research focuses on the intersections of business and human rights, legal theory, and international law, with a special focus on law during the time of war. Ata is a Murphy Institute Visiting Assistant Professor at Tulane Law School. 

This discussion series is open to all—academics, activists, and all of us in between.