Addressing emerging challenges in the Middle East: “How the 'laws of war' apply to the conflict between Israel and Hamas” with Prof. Robert Goldman
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On Thursday, October 19, 2023, in collaboration with the LLM Board and the War Crime Research Office, we held an event intending to analyze the application of international humanitarian law in the current conflict between Hamas and Israel. The event was moderated by Susana SàCouto, Director of the War Crimes Research Office, and featured Robert Goldman as the speaker. Robert Goldman is a Professor of Law and the Louis C. James Scholar at the American University Washington College of Law. He is also the Co-Director of WCL's Center for Human Rights and Humanitarian Law. Professor Goldman specializes in teaching, practicing, and writing in International Law, Human Rights Law, Terrorism, and International Humanitarian Law. Among his various roles, he was a member of the Commission of International Jurists on the Administration of Justice in Peru, President of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, Current President of the Executive Committee of the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), and Co-Chair of the Academy on Human Rights and Humanitarian Law of AU WCL.
The event was attended by many students, including those pursuing LLM, JD, and Humphrey Fellowships, with more than 100 participants. This turnout reflects many students' concern and attention towards this armed conflict. The topics discussed delved into numerous issues under international law highlighted by this conflict. Reference was made to the four 1949 Geneva Conventions, their two Additional Protocols of 1977, the Hague Conventions of 1899 and 1907, and certain weapons conventions, which form the core of the matter. Professor Goldman explained how challenging it is to classify this conflict and how it carries various consequences, including the obligations each party must uphold, such as the principles of proportionality and the distinction between civilians and combatants. These themes are thoroughly analyzed in this article written by Professor Goldman in "The Conversation" blog.
Similar to the approach taken with the Ukraine and Russia conflict, American University Washington College of Law is examining the issue strictly from a legal perspective, analyzing the rules that should be equally and impartially applied by both parties and leading the academic conversation up on the protection of victims in the context of armed conflicts.