The “Palestine in the Context of International Law Conference and Forum-4” program, supported by the General Directorate of Civil Society Relations of the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Turkey and organized by the Ideal Civilization Law Club of Istanbul Civilization University, was held on February 18, 2025.
Our Rector Prof. Dr. Gülfettin Çelik, Denizli Deputy Av. Cahit Özkan, Istanbul 2nd Bar Association President Av. Yasin Şamlı, Faculty of Law Dean Prof. Dr. Özcan Günergök, Deputy Secretary General Ali Polat, academicians and students attended the event held in our university's central library.
The opening speeches of the conference were made by Istanbul 2nd Bar Association President Av. Yasin Şamlı and Istanbul Civilization University Rector Prof. Dr. Gülfettin Çelik.
Istanbul 2nd Bar Association President Lawyer Yasin Şamlı, drew attention to the legal violations in Palestine in his speech and emphasized that international legal mechanisms are inadequate in such crises. Şamlı, who stated that the human rights violations in Syria are similarly ignored by the international community, stated that this situation reveals the double standards of legal systems. Şamlı, who stated that law should operate equally for everyone as a universal value, said that it is imperative for international organizations to take a more active role in Palestine and similar crises. He concluded his speech by emphasizing that lawyers and civil society should assume more active responsibility in order to ensure justice.
Following the speech of Istanbul 2nd Bar Association President Av. Yasin Şamlı, our Rector Prof. Dr. Gülfettin Çelik addressed the participants. Our Rector drew attention to the changeability of global balances of power by addressing the rise and fall processes of civilizations. Çelik stated that Western civilization has entered a period of contraction within the framework of historical fluctuations frequently mentioned in social sciences and economics, and that this process has progressed similarly to the rise and decline cycles of many civilizations throughout history.
Emphasizing the importance of creating awareness and activating individual and social initiatives in such times of crisis, our Rector Prof. Dr. Gülfettin Çelik stated that the current period is a process that affects the future of not only a specific geography but also all of humanity on a global scale. Expressing that the Palestinian issue is not only a regional problem but should be addressed as a global justice issue, Çelik emphasized that historically, major transformations have occurred in periods of contraction and that both the academic community and civil society should assume a more active role in this process.
Our rector stated that the current international legal mechanisms are insufficient in terms of effectiveness in the context of Palestine, and that civil initiatives should be put into effect not only within the framework of institutional law, but also at the individual and societal level. Drawing attention to the increasing sensitivity of different societies on the global scale regarding Palestine, Çelik stated that especially civil society organizations and individual initiatives can create a stronger impact in the international arena. Reminding that civil voices are rising in many regions from Europe to South America, he said that such initiatives should be supported.
Finally, Çelik touched on the importance of raising social awareness during times of recession, stating that such academic meetings play a critical role in creating not only local but also global awareness. He expressed his belief that the conference will provide academic and legal contributions to the more effective functioning of international law and the provision of justice, and thanked all academics and participants who contributed to the organization of the program.
Three separate sessions were held as part of the event. In the first session titled “International Law’s Test with Palestine”, the functioning and effectiveness of international law regarding developments in Palestine were discussed. While the speakers assessed the capacity of the existing mechanisms of international law to produce solutions to the Palestinian issue, they also touched on discussions on the impartiality and applicability of law. In addition, the positions of the United Nations and other international organizations on Palestine and the effects of their decisions on the field were discussed.
The second session focused on how the human rights violations in Palestine were evaluated within the framework of international criminal law under the title of “International Criminal Court, Genocide Allegations and Legal Consequences”. In particular, the legal basis of the genocide allegations, the cases filed in international courts and how these processes are shaped within the framework of current legal norms were discussed. The jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court (ICC), decisions taken in similar cases in the past and the investigations conducted in the context of Palestine were evaluated in detail by expert legal experts.
During the Student Forum session, Law Faculty students exchanged ideas on the approach of international law to the Palestinian issue and solutions, and presented analyses within an academic and legal framework. The session addressed the legal, political and humanitarian dimensions of the current situation in Palestine, while suggestions that would encourage the international community to act more effectively were also discussed.
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