At a juncture where questions multiply regarding whether the ceasefire in Gaza will lead to accountability or the reproduction of impunity, the Palestinian Human Rights Institution (WITNESS) organized a specialized webinar on Thursday, January 22, 2026, via Zoom. The seminar, titled "Gaza After the Ceasefire: A Legal Reading of International Justice and Accountability Paths," featured a select group of legal experts, researchers, and lawyers concerned with Palestinian legal and human rights affairs.
The webinar was moderated by the Director of (WITNESS), Dr. Mahmoud Al-Hanafi, who emphasized in his opening remarks that a ceasefire does not mean the suspension of accountability or the closing of the file on crimes committed. Rather, it necessitates a doubling of legal and human rights efforts to ensure no impunity and to transform the post-war phase into an actual path for accountability and redress.
The seminar included three specialized papers:
The First Paper: Legal Humanitarian Obligations and Opening Crossings
Presented by human rights activist from Gaza, Ms. Amira Shaath, the paper addressed the legal and humanitarian dimensions of the post-ceasefire phase. She stressed that respecting the rules of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and human rights, lifting restrictions on aid entry, and opening crossings constitute an indivisible legal obligation. She held the international community legally and morally responsible for the ongoing Israeli violations and the restriction of humanitarian work in the Gaza Strip.
The Second Paper: Legal Accountability: No Justice Without Accountability
Presented by Lawyer Abdelmajid El-Mrari, who noted that despite the formidable challenges facing the path to accountability, unexpected breakthroughs have been achieved. Most notably, the issuance of two arrest warrants by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against occupation leaders, along with the movement of national courts with universal jurisdiction in several countries to issue arrest warrants against Israeli soldiers involved in war crimes. He emphasized that these developments would not have been possible without the pivotal role played by human rights organizations through professional documentation and the provision of evidence and data.
Conversely, he highlighted that this path faces immense pressure exerted on judges and international justice bodies, including direct and indirect financial sanctions, as well as political threats aimed at obstructing progress in accountability files. He also pointed out that the International Court of Justice (ICJ), despite the weight of its decisions, lacks effective enforcement mechanisms, which limits the practical impact of its rulings in the absence of mandatory tools.
The Third Paper: International Governance of Gaza After the War
Presented by Dr. Anis Fawzi Qassem, who asserted that what is being promoted under the name "Gaza Peace Council" represents a clear contradiction to the rules of international law. He described it as an attempt to create an international body parallel to the United Nations system, undermining the core principles of the right to self-determination, international justice, and legal accountability.
He explained that these proposals aim to reproduce guardianship over Gaza and bypass the Palestinian will, in a flagrant violation of the rules of international legitimacy. He stressed that Palestinian steadfastness on their land is the decisive factor in thwarting these projects, calling for the empowerment of a Palestinian technocratic committee to play an effective humanitarian and administrative role focused on the unhindered entry of aid, opening crossings, and the actual commencement of the reconstruction process to enhance the resilience of Gaza's population.
Interactive Discussion and Conclusion
The seminar witnessed an interactive discussion, featuring interventions focused on the prospects of international accountability, the limits of justice amidst power imbalances, and the role of civil society in the upcoming phase.
At the conclusion of the seminar, the publication of the book "Broken Justice: Gaza and Genocide in the Scales of International Law" by Dr. Mahmoud Al-Hanafi was announced, featuring a legal introduction by Dr. Anis Fawzi Qassem.
The Palestinian Human Rights Institution (WITNESS)Beirut – January 23, 2026