Preparatory material | Breaking Impunity: Global Strategic Litigation and Accountability for Palestine

Jurists for Palestine Forum – Season 3 – Panel Discussion (5)

This summary was prepared by the Jurist Forum Team

This document presents a summary of an online panel discussion and 7 articles that address various manifestations and forms of legal accountability measures pursued by Palestinian and international civil society. Several legal coalitions and partnerships have formed between organizations and across civil society in various jurisdictions with the aim of breaking the cycle of impunity and instigating judicial measures to confront the unlawful Israeli occupation and violations of international law including war crimes and crimes against humanity. The document provides a description of the obligations of states and private entities under international law in the context of ongoing violence in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) along with an overview of three ongoing legal complaints in different jurisdictions addressing violations by the Israeli regime against Palestinians in the occupied territory.

Summary:

• The first summary provides an overview of a panel discussion that relies on the UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese’s report “From the Economy of Occupation to the Economy of Genocide,” to examine the legal and ethical implications of corporate involvement in Israel’s prolonged occupation and alleged genocidal practices. Panelists analyzed the evolving legal landscape through recent International Court of Justice opinions, the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and international treaties protecting vulnerable populations, especially children. They emphasized that corporations operating in or connected to the occupied Palestinian territories face increasing legal liability and reputational risk.
• The second summary provides an overview of a groundbreaking complaint under Germany’s 2023 Supply Chain Due Diligence Act against media giant Axel Springer for facilitating illegal settlement activity through its Israeli subsidiary Yad2. The case alleges that Yad2 profits from real estate listings in occupied territories, contributing to land grabs and apartheid. Despite strong legal backing and international support, Germany’s enforcement agency BAFA rejected the complaint on procedural grounds, prompting widespread criticism. The case highlights the clash between progressive legal standards and political reluctance to enforce them, raising urgent questions about corporate complicity and Germany’s commitment to international law.
• The third summary provides an overview of the international legal initiative “Global 195”, which aims to hold Israeli and dual-national individuals accountable for alleged war crimes in Gaza. The coalition seeks to pursue legal action across multiple countries in response to ongoing impunity in international courts based on universal jurisdiction.
• The fourth summary provides an overview of a criminal complaint filed by the ICJP with Scotland Yard accusing five senior UK ministers of complicity in war crimes in Gaza, including the use of starvation as a weapon. The submission highlights severe humanitarian suffering and alleges UK political and material support for these crimes. The case seeks to hold officials accountable not only for direct involvement but also for enabling violations through policy and arms support.
• The fifth summary provides an overview of a legal challenge launched by  GLAN and Al-Haq against the UK government for continuing arms exports to Israel despite evidence of serious international law violations in Gaza. Despite internal concerns and mounting civil society pressure, the High Court ruled the exports lawful, citing executive discretion.

Read the full preparatory material through this link. Click