Dr Benjamin Thorne

This is exactly what so many decent people - despite being derided with all sorts of nasty names and monikers - said would happen. Meanwhile, those who consistently denied and excused this atrocity have enjoyed full-blown impunity.

Is Genocide Happening in Gaza? [Melanie O’Brien is Associate Professor of International Law at the University of Western Australia, President of the International Association of Genocide Scholars, and Visiting Scholar with the H…

In this post on @opiniojuris.bsky.social, I walk through the components of the legal definition of #genocide and apply the actions on the ground in #Gaza to these components, to answer the question 'Is genocide happening in Gaza?'. opiniojuris.org/2025/08/04/i...

Appeals judges order ICC prosecutor to recuse himself from Venezuela investigation Appeals judges at the International Criminal Court have ordered chief prosecutor Karim Khan to recuse himself from an investigation into Venezuela, citing a conflict of interest.

Appeals judges at the International Criminal Court on Friday ordered chief prosecutor Karim Khan to recuse himself from an investigation into Venezuela, citing a conflict of interest.

(1/2) This is a interesting piece, and possibly provides some additional texture and colour to what has been reported thus far.

A interesting side point from the piece, is it highlights Khan's increasing commitment to OS evidence & the tech which facilitates the gathering and analysis of it. #ICC

(2/2) Critics 'question[ed] whether he has leaned too heavily on open-source evidence, rather than insiders prepared to give testimony, in building his case'

The Yekatom & Ngaissona judgment suggests ongoing challenges for the OTP's almost unconditional embracing of OS evidence and tech/AI. #ICC

(1/2) This is a interesting piece, and possibly provides some additional texture and colour to what has been reported thus far.

A interesting side point from the piece, is it highlights Khan's increasing commitment to OS evidence & the tech which facilitates the gathering and analysis of it. #ICC

Exclusive: How Karim Khan’s Israel war crimes probe was derailed by threats, leaks and sex claims Already targeted by US sanctions, the ICC chief prosecutor’s pursuit of Benjamin Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders now threatens his career, his reputation, and the future of the court itself

How Karim Khan’s Israel war crimes probe was derailed by threats, leaks and sex claims - www.middleeasteye.net/big-story/ex...

US sanctions Palestinian officials over ICJ and ICC cases State Department accuses unnamed PA and PLO officials of 'undermining the prospects for peace'

The United States said on Thursday that it was placing sanctions on officials in the Palestinian Authority (PA) and Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) over their work taking Israel to international courts - www.middleeasteye.net/news/us-sanc...

Marko sets it all out if anyone is interested www.ejiltalk.org/no-recognizi...

Over 100 lawyers ask ICC to investigate Macron and French ministers for Gaza genocide complicity Legal complaint accuses President Emmanuel Macron, three key ministers and scores of MPs of facilitating Israeli crimes against Palestinians

Over 100 lawyers ask ICC to investigate Macron and French ministers for Gaza genocide complicity - www.middleeasteye.net/news/over-10...

Over 100 lawyers ask ICC to investigate Macron and French ministers for Gaza genocide complicity Legal complaint accuses President Emmanuel Macron, three key ministers and scores of MPs of facilitating Israeli crimes against Palestinians

Over 100 lawyers ask ICC to investigate Macron and French ministers for Gaza genocide complicity - www.middleeasteye.net/news/over-10...

Judge Bars Trump Administration From Punishing 2 Law Professors for I.C.C. Work

Great news that a judge in the SDNY has permanently enjoined, on 1A grounds, the Trump administration from applying IEEPA's civil or criminal penalties to Lisa Davis, an OTP Special Adviser, and Gabor Rona, a law professor who works closely with the #ICC. www.nytimes.com/2025/07/30/u...

Belgium refers war crimes complaints against Israeli soldiers to ICC Belgian prosecutors took action after a legal complaint by pro-Palestinian group that identified two Israeli soldiers at the Tomorrowland music festival.

Belgium refers complaints against Israeli soldiers over Gaza war crimes to the ICC

I lead a top Israeli human rights group. Our country is committing genocide | Yuli Novak My generation was raised wondering how ordinary people could countenance an atrocity. In a grotesque twist, the question has circled back to us

I lead a top Israeli human rights group. Our country is committing genocide | Yuli Novak www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

From Struggle to Strategy: Teaching PhD Researchers Legal Writing and Methods - Frontiers of Socio-Legal Studies In this Methodological Musings post Seita Vesa and Kaisa Huhta reflect on teaching theories and methods to research students with a focus on the methodological struggles students face.

In this week’s #Frontiers Methodological Musings section, Seita Vesa and Kaisa Huhta reflect on teaching theories and methods to research students with a focus on the methodological struggles students face.

📖 Read the full post here:

frontiers.csls.ox.ac.uk/from-struggl...

Media literacy - Committees - UK Parliament This inquiry will seek to establish a clear vision for what good media literacy would look like in the UK, and examine the barriers to achieving this vision. The committee will consider the roles and ...

The House of Lords just released a major report on media literacy. Its core message is that the UK is falling behind, and it’s putting democracy at risk.
committees.parliament.uk/work/9030/me...

‘Lumumba everlasting’: Belgium marks Congo’s slain leader’s 100th birthday with exhibition – and possible trial Surprise move towards trial of veteran diplomat over Patrice Lumumba’s 1961 assassination coincides with show seeking to widen focus on his life and fight

Trials and Art: vehicles for history, narrative, memory, & justice?

Patrice #Lumumba - the first PM of an independent DR #Congo - was born in 1925, & assassinated in 1961.

In #Belgium an exhibition and an impending trial each serve as conduits of the past.
www.theguardian.com/world/2025/j...

Dutch to ban far-right Israeli ministers over Gaza The Netherlands will ban two far-right Israeli ministers from entering the country, declaring them “persona non grata,” in response to the rapidly deteriorating situation in Gaza.

The Netherlands will ban two far-right Israeli ministers from entering the country, in the latest European response to the rapidly deteriorating situation in Gaza, the country’s foreign minister said.

The Israeli Knesset passed a motion supporting the annexation of the West Bank. Here’s what that means. The Knesset’s motion supporting the annexation of the West Bank signals Israel’s intention of formalizing what it has already been doing at an accelerated pace since October 7 — establishing total Isr...

““What the vote at the Knesset is meant to be … is a way of gauging the international reaction, as advance preparation for advancing annexation up to the point that it is made official by the Israeli government.” mondoweiss.net/2025/07/the-...

Talent Development Awards 2025-26 The Talent Development Awards are available to promote the acquisition and advancement of skills in relevant areas by UK-based researchers, promoting innovative research methods, be that through skill...

We are offering up to £10k for researchers to upgrade their skills - e.g. in AI/machine learning; or a language; or something else! Think about it over the summer and apply by early October
www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/funding/tale...

A Historic Chance Missed: Harmonization of the ICC’s Jurisdiction over the Crime of Aggression Delayed Once More [Arne Bardelle is a senior legal advisor at the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR). ECCHR has supported the reform process and is among the over 80 co-signatories of the Jo…

A Historic Chance Missed: Harmonization of the ICC’s Jurisdiction over the Crime of Aggression Delayed Once More

opiniojuris.org/2025/07/25/a...

YouTube video by BBC News Former US Green Beret says Israel committed war crimes at Gaza food distribution site | BBC News

"Without question I witnessed war crimes by the Israel Defence Forces, without a doubt.

"Using artillery rounds, mortar rounds, firing tank rounds into unarmed civilians is a war crime.”

youtube.com/watch?v=72aZ...

Come and join us in Public Law @uctlaw.bsky.social.

Five positions in international law, environmental law and criminal law.

It is a fantastic department with a wonderful collection of colleagues doing cutting edge legal research.

Further details below

jobs.uct.ac.za/job/Cape-Tow...

Al Hassan case: ICC Judges take a decision on Mr Al Hassan’s sentence review Today, on 23 July 2025, a Panel of three judges of the Appeals Chamber  of the International Criminal Court (ICC) composed of Judge Luz del Carmen Ibáñez Carranza, Presiding, Judge Gocha Lordkipanidze...

Al Hassan case: A Panel of three judges of the Appeals Chamber of the ICC have reduce his original 10-year sentence, by 12 months. Sentence is due to be complete on 28 March 2027 - www.icc-cpi.int/news/al-hass...

Great to see “Feminist Judgments: Reimagining the International Criminal Court” finally published! In my contribution to the volume, I re-write the ICC's decision on Bangladesh/ Myanmar in a way that foregrounds the experience of Hijra & other gender diverse people: www.cambridge.org/core/books/f...

Here it is - my book on the interpreters at the first Frankfurt Auschwitz Trial is now out in physical form (not in open access for a year or two unfortunately) but good to hold a copy www.bloomsbury.com/uk/interpret...

Overall, some important points that seem to confirm previous work in the OS evidence and ICC space - OS evidence needs to be authentic and reliable, can pose issues re: cooperation esp for defence, and may have little probative value in the absence of corroborating evidence. Blog post MIGHT follow.

Exciting development re: ICC and tech! The Yekatom and Ngaissona judgment spends (to my knowledge) the most time we've seen the Court focus on social media evidence. Some key findings here:

Central African Republic rebels found guilty of war crimes by International Criminal Court International Criminal Court judges have found two leaders of a predominantly Christian rebel group in the Central African Republic guilty of multiple counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity.

International Criminal Court judges convicted two leaders of a predominantly Christian rebel group in the Central African Republic of multiple counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity on Thursday, sentencing each to more than a decade in prison.

ICC Judges rule #Hungary failed to comply with obligations under the #RomeStatute by failing to arrest #Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin #Netanyahu during a visit to the country from 2-6 April 2025, at the invitation of PM Viktor Orbán.

The Court refers the matter to the Assembly of States Parties.