On December 4th, the Chair of International Relations and Transnational Politics had the privilege of welcoming Professor Janina Dill from the University of Oxford for a guest lecture titled "International Law in Gaza: Belligerent Intent and Provisional Measures”, organized by Professor Solveig Richter.
The lecture was based on her recently published paper co-authored with Tom Dannenbaum. The event drew a large audience, with an interested crowd of students and researchers attending the lecture. Prof. Dill gave a detailed and well-reasoned presentation, offering clear conclusions on violations of international law but also fresh insights into the complexities of political impact in the current conflict in Gaza and the question of intent, possible complicity by third party states and the role of international courts during the conflict.
After the lecture, students raised questions about the academic discourse on the topic, the decisions of international courts, and the challenges international organizations face. A key takeaway from the discussion was the urgent need to explore ways out of the current crises in international law. Prof. Dill concluded her session with a message of hope, encouraging the younger generation to take an active role in maintaining the relevance and integrity of international law. Thank you, Professor Dill, for an inspiring and intellectually stimulating lecture!
Lectures like this highlight the need for open discourse and the preservation of academic spaces where such issues can be addressed within the context of heated and polarized public discussions. Our Chair aims to facilitate such spaces and create a foundation for respectful and considered dialog, especially regarding contested issues during armed conflicts.