Jericho – Ma’an – On Wednesday, Al-Istiqlal University hosted the Defenders Initiative – the best legal pleading by Palestinian law students before the International Court of Justice regarding the crime of genocide, as part of its contribution to the process of change, achieving justice, simulating the Palestinian humanitarian situation, and enhancing the capabilities of youth.
The event was held with the participation of 5 teams from the law faculties of the following Palestinian universities (Al-Quds, An-Najah National, Hebron, Arab American, Istiqlal, Birzeit, Modern College, Palestine Ahliya), in partnership with Sharek Youth Forum, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the United Nations Population Fund.
The event was attended by the Governor of Jericho and the Jordan Valley, Dr. Hussein Hamayel, and the Vice President of the University for Academic Affairs and Scientific Research, Dr. Nayef Jarad, the military Brigadier General Zaher Sabah, and the administrative and financial Dr. Ali Ayida, and Assist
ant to the President for Media, Public and International Relations, Dr. Iyad Masoud, Executive Director of Sharek Forum Dr. Badr Zamaara, and Dean of the College of Law, Dr. Issam Al-Atrash, faculty members, and Dr. Khairiya Yahya, Dean of Graduate Studies and Scientific Research, Dean of the Faculty of Law at An-Najah University, Dr. Nour Adas and representatives of law faculties in Palestinian universities.
During the opening session, Dr. Jarad welcomed the attendees to the “Independence” hall, conveying the greetings of the University President, His Excellency Prof. Dr. Nour Abu Al-Rub, and emphasizing the importance of this work and the momentum of the event and its weight at the local and international levels, which coincided with the cases raised by the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court? As well as with the participation of the university and a number of Palestinian jurists in the work of the “World Court for Palestine”, which was held in Geneva with the participation
of experts, judges and jurists from 45 countries, and in which complaints and lawsuits were raised and working papers were presented on apartheid and racial segregation and the various crimes committed and committed by the Israeli colonial settler, occupation and apartheid authority against the Palestinian people in Gaza and the rest of the occupied State of Palestine.
Jarad explained that the salvation of the Palestinian people and the attempts to ethnically cleanse them and expel them from their homeland was and still is a dream of the Zionist movement, but this matter was thwarted by the struggles of the Palestinian people and their steadfastness on their homeland, and that our people today are still clinging to their land and rejecting all attempts at forced displacement, and that thwarting the plans of the extremist religious Israeli right requires today more than ever to strengthen our steadfastness and presence on the ground and our national unity, and to integrate the use of all forms of legitimate s
truggle and invest in the awakening of the popular human conscience and restore consideration to the Palestinian cause and support the Palestinian right on the international level to prosecute Israeli war criminals and impose international binding mechanisms for right and justice in Palestine in order to seize our right to return and self-determination and establish an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital.
Jarad concluded his speech by praising the supervisors’ efforts to guide and develop the students’ cognitive skills and skill, good presentation and simulation of various roles in court, hoping that their pleadings would be crowned with success, good fortune and distinction.
For his part, Dr. Hussein Hamayel praised this wonderful academic student work, and the shedding of light on this important and serious issue by Palestinian universities, and the importance of extracurricular activities in filling the information gap that may not be covered by books on school benches, and enhancing legal aw
areness among the youth.
His Excellency the Governor added, “We are faced with an elite group of students that we are proud of to the whole world, and a productive educational system despite the difficult circumstances we are going through. The Palestinian is still creative in all forums and fields,” conveying the greetings of His Excellency President Mahmoud Abbas.
In order to spread hope and instill high morale, Hamayel addressed his message to the students: ‘Commit to your work and move in the right direction, far from incitement, stirring up strife, and selling illusions. Carry the national burden and concern without underestimating any effort you make, even if it is represented by an electronic publication that embodies the extent of the pain and suffering that the Palestinians are experiencing, or shows the extent of your success and challenge to reality, as its echo may resonate in the ears and eyes of the world, and you may even stand one day in the International Court of Justice. Therefore, struggl
e for your dreams and ambitions, and your goal will be achieved.’
Dr. expressed. Zamra expressed his happiness with this great scientific edifice, pointing to the strategic partnership that brings together the two sides in qualitative and youth events and activities that fall within the framework of national action and serving the public good, most notably the establishment of a moot court within the College of Law that provides pivotal sessions and discussions. This initiative came as a result of intensive professional and diplomatic training on Over the course of 30 days, the pleadings will be subject to a jury consisting of 7 members as a new experience of its kind for the participants. ‘We are witnessing a group of young people with a strong style, sober language and passion that competes with the world’s legal experts, and we can fight with them in the coming battle, as they today represent the voice of truth in ‘In light of the horrific, tragic humanitarian conditions that the Strip is witnessing due t
o the Israeli war machine.’
Zamaara touched on the official efforts represented by the Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the Hague Court during the invitation submitted by South Africa to prosecute Israel, through documents and evidence that prove the validity of the crimes committed by the Israeli army in its escalating aggression on Gaza.
The speech of the participating students was given by student Sally Jabouri from ‘Arab American’, noting the launch of the Defenders Program out of belief in the importance of legal work to support our cause and correct the common concept about the futility of the International Court of Justice, saying, ‘Today we carry the file of genocide, and no right is lost when there is a claimant behind it, even after 100 years. This stems from a sense of individual responsibility and an attempt to raise the voice of the people of Gaza and support them in all possible ways in the face of the feeling of helplessness and negligence and standing before a deaf and ignorant wor
ld. It is a great honor to plead to represent them amid the crimes they are exposed to in violation of international law.’
The opening also included an explanatory video showing the project stages and the expected benefits it achieved for the students, including preparing pleadings and how to formulate them, learning about the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice, and reviewing the experiences and expertise of knowledgeable figures in this regard.
The second session, which was held inside the moot court building of Al-Istiqlal University, included the pleadings of the five teams (Rafah, Shuja’iyya, Gaza, Jabalia, Khan Yunis).
At the end of the arguments, the panel of judges and arbitrators, consisting of Dr. Najah Al-Daqmaq as president, and Dr. Muhammad Shtayyeh, Dr. Badr Zamaara, Dr. Muhammad Jaradat, Dr. Fadi Shedid, Dr. Mahmoud Alawneh, and Dr. Hossam Shalalda as members, deliberated and took a decision that the Gaza team won as the best legal case. Simulates the humanitarian situation in
Gaza.
At the end, the committee announced that the Gaza team won first place within the criteria of: quality of presentation and presentation, correct legal language, use of facts and events, and diversity of arguments and judicial precedents. The team included 6 students as follows: Fatima Jarar – Arab American University, Rahaf Abdullah – An-Najah National University, Amir Al-Jaradat – Al-Istiqlal University, Muniyatallah Manasra – Hebron University, Sara Abu Ghosh – Birzeit University, Aya Haddad – Al-Quds University Abu Dis.
Source: Maan News Agency
