What is the Gaza Tribunal?

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The tribunal concerning crimes against humanity in Palestine began in London in November 2024. Its subsequent session took place in Sarajevo, and the closing session was held in Istanbul in October 2025.

It is not an official international criminal court; rather, it is the Gaza Tribunal, a body established through the initiative of civil society and the legal community.

This tribunal functions as a symbolic and moral platform, aiming to draw attention to the disregard of international law and to call for accountability of those responsible.

Information About the Gaza Tribunal

The Gaza Tribunal was established as an international civil initiative to examine Israel’s attacks on the Gaza Strip and the alleged war crimes, crimes against humanity, and acts of genocide committed therein.

Final Session in Istanbul

Name of the Session: Gaza Tribunal – Istanbul Final Session
Dates: 23–26 October 2025
Venue: Typically held at academic or civil institutions such as Istanbul University.
Participants: An international panel of lawyers, academics, political scientists, diplomats, and human rights activists from Türkiye and around the world.

Nature of the Tribunal

Legal Status

This is a symbolic people’s tribunal or tribunal of conscience.
It does not possess formal judicial authority like the International Court of Justice (ICJ) or the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Its purpose is to examine allegations within the framework of existing international law, gather evidence, inform the public, and articulate the legal characterization of the crimes to generate political and moral pressure on official international judicial bodies.

Scope of Examination

Alleged war crimes, crimes against humanity, and violations of the Genocide Convention committed by Israel in Gaza since 7 October 2023.

Decisions

Following its sessions, the tribunal aimed to issue a final moral judgment stating that the State of Israel violated international law and committed—or demonstrated intent to commit—genocide in Gaza.
In some sessions, symbolic findings were also issued against certain countries providing military or economic support to Israel, deeming them complicit.

Enforceability

The decisions of the Gaza Tribunal carry no legally binding force and do not impose any obligation of implementation due to its unofficial character.

Impact

The rulings aim to generate political and moral influence.
The evidence collected may serve as reference material or supporting documentation for cases brought before official international courts (such as the ICC) or within national jurisdictions invoking universal jurisdiction.

The Gaza Tribunal continues the tradition of past People’s Tribunals or Tribunals of Conscience established to investigate crimes in Vietnam, Iraq, Myanmar, and other contexts worldwide.

Given the nature of the session held in Istanbul, this was not a formal judicial process but rather a platform to express an international legal and moral response to the situation in Gaza.