Is Gaza a tipping point for international law?
in the media image: Tingey Injury on Unsplash
International law is under pressure due to the situation in Gaza. NRC newspaper published an article on the future of the international legal order. Six experts, including Professor of Public International Law Larissa van den Herik, comment on the challenges.
In the interview, Van den Herik says that we are on the eve of a 'dark decade', in which international law will be put to the test. The most important tipping point is the changed attitude of the United States towards the international legal order.
The debate about the importance of international law is heating up, including within Dutch politics. Does it remain relevant when states (such as Israel) do not (or hardly) seem to be held responsible for gross violations?
Van den Herik can understand ‘those who say that international law is buried in Gaza, but even if the law is not respected in a certain situation and is grossly violated, it's still the language of good and evil'. Moreover, the professor points out that some states have already acted on violations by Israel. She also emphasises that respect for international law is purely a matter of self-interest for a small country like the Netherlands, because we 'do not thrive in a world where it’s every man for himself'.
More information?
Read the full article in NRC (€, in Dutch)