Law Society supports updated IBA statement on Israel and Gaza

The Law Society of Scotland Council passed a resolution at its meeting in November 2023 to endorse a statement by International Bar Association Human Right's Institute (IBAHRI) on the conflict in Israel and Gaza. It has called for adherence to international law, setting out that: 

• the principle of proportionality applies to all uses of military force, irrespective of the rationale of resorting to military force;
• the humanitarian law principles of distinction (this means distinguishing between military and civilian objects, and the duty to protect the latter) and proportionality are sacred, and must be complied with at all times; and
• international human rights law and international criminal law continue to apply in armed conflict, alongside international humanitarian law.

It stated that these are well-established principles of international law, rooted in the imperative to take every and all measures necessary in order to protect human life and uphold human dignity, even in war. 

The full IBAHRI statement is available to read.

The Society's previous statement can be read on our website.