Turkish Bar Associations Demand International Legal Action Following Israeli Bombing in Gaza

The Union of Turkish Bar Associations (TBB) has issued a strong call to action in the wake of a deadly Israeli airstrike on a displaced persons camp in Rafah, Gaza, urging international legal organizations to not stay silent against what it terms as genocide. In a letter to global legal bodies such as the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE) and the International Bar Association, the TBB demanded immediate justice for the victims, stating that justice delayed is justice denied.
The TBB’s statement highlighted the urgent necessity to prevent further crimes against humanity and pointed out the genocidal intent behind recent events. The organization criticized the adequacy of post-factum legal actions when innocent lives, including children, are lost, emphasizing that punishing perpetrators through international law after the fact does not equate to justice.
The Israeli airstrike targeted a tent camp for displaced Palestinians in Rafah this Sunday, resulting in at least 45 deaths and nearly 250 injuries, as reported by Gaza’s government media office. This incident is part of the ongoing offensive in Gaza that started on October 7 last year after an attack by Hamas, which has so far claimed over 37,171 lives, injured 81,420, and devastated the region, leaving it in dire need of food, water, and medical supplies due to a severe blockade.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has labeled Israel’s actions as genocide, demanding an immediate cessation of its operations in Rafah, an area where over a million Palestinians sought refuge before it was invaded on May 6.