ISS – Immunity or impunity? Legal briefing on Ismail Ziada v the Netherlands

Overview

This event hosted by the International Institute of Social Studies of Erasmus University Rotterdam (ISS) will have an expert panel explaining the case Ismail Ziada’s lawyers are now bringing on his behalf to the European Court of Human Rights.

An attack in 2014 resulted in the death of six of Ziada’s family members, in the context of unlawful attacks on civilians and civilians’ infrastructure in Gaza. The Dutch courts refused to consider his war crimes claim against the Israeli officials on the grounds that the officials were protected by state immunity. The case being launched by Mr Ziada against the Netherlands at the European Court of Human Rights challenges this denial of justice in Dutch courts as a violation of the Netherlands’ obligations under the European Convention on Human Rights.

This event will present and explain to interested press and public this new legal initiative and its significance in the context of unfolding violations in Gaza today. The case is being brought on Mr Ziada’s behalf by Human Rights in PracticeOpens external and the event is supported by a collaborative civil society effort including the International Institute of Social Studies of Erasmus University Rotterdam (ISS), the Nuhanovic FoundationOpens external, Human Rights in Practice and the European Legal Support CenterOpens external.

Programme

Presenter: Helen Duffy

Moderator: Jeff Handmaker