UN: Violence in Gaza Is Genocide | Current Affairs Lecture with Scholar of Law Henri de Waele and Historian Paul Reef

Announcement

The UN commission investigating violence in Gaza and the Palestinian territories has declared that Israel is committing genocide in the Gaza Strip. According to the commission, there is evidence of the deliberate destruction of the Palestinian people. What are the consequences of this statement? Why did it take so long to be made? And is there a connection to the wave of countries that recognized the Palestinian state in the days that followed?

Come listen to scholar of law Henri de Waele and historian Paul Reef as they explore these questions—and bring your own.

Intervention Required 

The Genocide Convention obliges countries to intervene when signs of genocide appear. Yet so far, little action has been taken, apart from the growing number of states recognizing Palestine.

What does this say about the shifting role of the UN? What about the responsibility to act? Does recognition of statehood benefit the Palestinian people? How do differences in recognition affect international relations? And can the UN itself take action?

Historian Paul Reef and scholar of law Henri de Waele will discuss these and related questions.

About the Speakers 

Henri de Waele is a scholar of law at Radboud University, specializing in International and European Law. His research focuses on EU institutional law, external relations, and the role of the Union in international legal affairs.

Paul Reef is a historian at Radboud University. His research covers political and international history, with a focus on the history of sport and politics, international organizations, European integration, protest, and social movements.