TEHRAN – On Sunday, the Iranian Central Bar Association convened a gathering in Tehran to investigate legal and judicial avenues for holding Israeli officials accountable for the heinous war crimes they have been committing against the people of Gaza over the past months. 

The conference, held under the auspices of the World Assembly of Islamic Awakening, brought together legal professionals from Jordan, Russia, Brazil, Algeria, Indonesia, Egypt, Kenya, Pakistan, Syria, Nigeria, Iraq, Tunisia, Uganda, Palestine, and Lebanon. All of whom have been actively engaged in legal actions against Israel.

Addressing the gathering, the Iranian Central Bar Association's president emphasized that the Israeli regime's actions in Gaza in recent months constitute crimes against humanity, war crimes, and genocide under international law and treaties.

The conference aimed to explore the capabilities of national and international bodies in prosecuting the perpetrators of these crimes and to strategize effective legal measures against the Israeli regime.

Various rights bodies have accused Israel of war crimes during its killing campaign that has been ongoing in Gaza since October 7, 2023. The regime has so far killed 35,000 Palestinians, most of whom are women and children. It has razed the majority of buildings in the enclave to the ground, not even sparing hospitals, schools, churches, and mosques. Most of Gaza’s population has also been internally displaced. 

Some reports suggest the International Criminal Court (ICC) might soon issue arrest warrants against high-ranking Israeli officials based on countless findings proving that their orders have led to instances of war crimes. The U.S., however, has been threatening judges at the ICC to refrain from making such a move.