Istanbul: Speakers at the Gaza Tribunal’s final session in Istanbul on Saturday urged more inventive and coordinated forms of global solidarity with Palestinians, warning that traditional activism and fragmented legal efforts have failed to halt what they described as Israeli atrocities in Gaza.
According to Anadolu Agency, representatives from Norway, Trkiye, and international legal groups outlined initiatives they say can broaden public engagement and strengthen accountability mechanisms during the session on ‘Solidarity.’ Charlotte Qvale from The Oslo Solidarity group expressed her shift to new forms of activism, citing the inadequacy of conventional protests. ‘It had become clear that a man-made Israeli catastrophe was taking place in Gaza,’ she noted.
Qvale, an Icelandic-Norwegian pop artist, collaborated with Norwegian physician and academic Dr. Mads Gilbert to blend culture with evidence-based advocacy. ‘I make music. but I felt that I lacked knowledge. So I joined forces with Mads,’ she added. Gilbert, experienced in documenting conflict’s humanitarian consequences since the early 1980s, emphasized that information alone is insufficient for change. ‘Knowledge alone has no wings and may be left behind in dusty rooms and libraries,’ he remarked.
The duo highlighted events merging research, performance, and dialogue, such as a 90-minute forum featuring Palestinian and Israeli scholars, and a significant concert that raised $75,000 for the Palestinian Medical Relief Society. ‘Solidarity strengthens the just struggle in occupied Palestine,’ Gilbert stated. ‘We can all be influential agents of change. because time is a critical factor.’
In a video message to the tribunal, American anti-war activist David Swanson urged governments to utilize the UN General Assembly’s Uniting for Peace mechanism to bypass ‘the veto-privileged Security Council’ and decisively act to stop the war on Gaza. Swanson, co-founder and executive director of World BEYOND War, advocated for measures including arresting officials sought by the International Criminal Court, imposing a full arms embargo, ending diplomatic and financial ties with Israel, and deploying unarmed civilian protection teams with humanitarian support.
Representing the Anatolian Civil Society Platform, Metin Dogan shared how the Gaza conflict had unified more than 2,000 associations across Trkiye into regular actions and humanitarian initiatives. ‘In other words, Gaza became the unifier of the Ummah,’ he commented. Turkish activists organized flotillas and land convoys to break the blockade and deliver aid, Dogan noted, emphasizing the need for continued resistance until Palestinian freedom is achieved.
Members from the Worldwide Lawyers Association (WOLAS) called for a coordinated legal strategy to address what they described as genocide and apartheid against Palestinians. Turkish Vice President of WOLAS, Huseyin Disli, highlighted the destruction of Gaza’s legal system, noting the loss of legal personnel and infrastructure. He advocated for ‘international legal accompaniment’ to protect legal workers and rebuild Palestinian legal institutions.
The four-day public session at Istanbul University marked the culmination of a year-long effort by international jurists, scholars, and civil society figures to document Israel’s alleged crimes against Palestinians. Presided over by Richard Falk, the tribunal aims to compile a comprehensive ‘people’s record’ of what participants describe as genocide and systemic violations of international law in Gaza. The jury of conscience, including Kenize Mourad, Christine Chinkin, and others, is expected to issue a final opinion summarizing their findings.