Turkish Bar Association calls on legal bodies to act against Israeli atrocities

The Union of Turkish Bar Associations (TBB) has taken a decisive stance in response to Israel’s recent bombing of a displaced persons camp in Rafah, Gaza.

The TBB has called for urgent action in a letter addressed to prominent international legal organizations, including the Council of Bars and Law Societies of Europe (CCBE), the International Association of Lawyers, the International Bar Association, and the Federation of European Bars.

The TBB’s statement, released on Wednesday, urges these legal bodies not to remain silent in the face of what it describes as genocide. It emphasizes the critical importance of swift justice, asserting that delayed justice cannot be considered justice at all.

Highlighting the urgent need to prevent further crimes against humanity, the TBB underscores the evident presence of genocidal intent in recent events.

“While the gravest crimes against humanity witnessed throughout human history are being committed, punishing the perpetrators through international law after children and innocent civilians lose their lives will not ensure justice,” the statement noted.

The airstrike on a tent camp for displaced Palestinians in Rafah on Sunday resulted in the deaths of at least 45 people and left nearly 250 wounded, according to Gaza’s government media office.

The strike occurred near the U.N. Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) ‘s logistics base in Tal al-Sultan.

Israel’s ongoing offensive in Gaza, which began on Oct. 7 last year following an attack by the Palestinian group Hamas, has resulted in a devastating toll.

More than 37,171 people have been killed in Gaza, with 81,420 others injured, the vast majority being women and children. The enclave now lies in ruins, with a severe shortage of food, clean water and medicine exacerbated by a crippling blockade.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has accused Israel of genocide, issuing a ruling demanding an immediate halt to its operations in Rafah, where over a million Palestinians had sought refuge from the war before it was invaded on May 6.