A Gaza Tribunal emerged to break through institutional silence

A coalition of global voices gathered last week in London to confront the silence surrounding Gaza and demand accountability beyond institutional constraints

I find myself at a gathering destined to be dissected, cited, and scrutinized for years to come: the inaugural Gaza Tribunal in London. This isn’t your typical assembly of government-bound diplomats or detached intellectuals; this is a coalition of human rights advocates, legal experts, celebrated academics, and grassroots organizers. The names in this room over the next two days carry weight in the world of critical thought: Richard Falk, Michael Lynk, Susan Akram, Noura Erakat, Judith Butler, Cemil Aydın, Penny Green, Ussama Makdisi, Hilal Elver, John Reynolds, Diana Buttu, Ilan Pappe, and many others. Each brings a distinct history of intellectual and activist resistance, forming a collective response to the void mainstream narratives have left around Gaza.

This Tribunal isn't just a quest for legal transparency; it's a direct confrontation with the moral torpor that's plagued official bodies. Inspired by the likes of the 1966 Russell Tribunal on Vietnam—Bertrand Russell’s response …