Teaching a legal course this semester where recent armed conflict events are relevant, or know someone who is? The IHL Syllabus Supplement connects educators with salient law and policy discussions. Curated from JS archives by @bechamilton.bsky.social and Danae Askar.

My recommendations involve Yale Law School, Ali Khamenei, and Numenor

Seems pertinent

"the combat decisions he has made" Hegseth is setting up Admiral Bradley to take the blame for killing the survivors--which is just the tip of an immense iceberg of illegal acts. U.S. military officials beware: Following orders is not a defense to murder or war crimes.

After you help your boss convert a doc to PDF

Thanks so much. This has been an incredible honor.

Thanks!

Just uploaded an updated version of my forthcoming chapter for The Cambridge History of IL, discussing IHL in the post-Cold War era. The new version updates some issues and revisits the general framing of the period, which is profoundly different from today. papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....

4 pm Fri 14 November 2025 - Join us next week for the Award Ceremony for the Max Planck-Cambridge Prize for International Law (MaxCamPIL) 2025 which will be presented to Prof Eliav Lieblich. Further info: buff.ly/cr5MraV

I wrote an analysis of the US draft Security Council on Gaza. In short: it's rife with problems that must be resolved.

My analysis of some key issues in yesterday's ICJ Advisory Opinion is now online. I discuss the general context of the Opinion; central aspects in its findings on humanitarian duties; and the different approaches towards the duty to cooperate wrh the UN, as advanced by different judges.

One thing I can say about the ICJ opinion from yesterday: it cuts through the BS. Some muddled reasoning about the duty to cooperate because some judges disagreed on its scope. Also, an important declaration by Judge Cleveland. I hope to publish an analysis (very) soon.

1/ In case anybody missed it, the ICRC just published the new Commentary on the Fourth Geneva Conventions: ihl-databases.icrc.org/en/ihl-treat... This is an impressive project will surely dominate discussions in the field of protection of civilians under IHL for years to come.

So ... this is taking place next month at Cambridge. Receiving this prize is an incredible honor for me, and I'll be thrilled to meet in Cambridge those of you who are around and interested in attending! www.lcil.cam.ac.uk/max-planck-c... www.lcil.cam.ac.uk/press/events...

Officials say GHF aid sites being shut down, in accordance with Gaza deal https://www.timesofisrael.com/officials-say-ghf-aid-sites-being-shut-down-in-accordance-with-gaza-deal/

No words to describe this day

This is of course a "happy" day to the extent that things can be "happy" now. The key is what will be the mechanism that would prevent resumption of active hostilities after the hostages are returned. I personally have no faith (to say the least) in the actors involved. Let's hope for the best.

Stares into almost 20 years of Netanyahu

OUR BATHROOM MIRRORS ARE VITAL TO OUR NATIONAL SECURITY

Looking forward to @esil-sedi.bsky.social's annual conference, where I'll be chairing the Agora on the Laws of War. This is a dark time to discuss these issues, which is also why they are so important. I'm glad that our panel focuses on issues that are key to understanding this moment.

1/ I worked at DoD. I literally cannot imagine lawyers coming up with a legal basis for lethal strike of suspected Venezuelan drug boat. Hard to see how this would not be "murder" or war crime under international law that DoD considers applicable. Read expert analysis by @bcfinucane.bsky.social⤵️

I don't remember a darker moment

Must read

We’re hiring! JS is seeking a full-time Editorial Assistant to support our democracy and rule of law initiatives and help advance our broader work and mission. Application deadline is September 15. Early applications are highly encouraged. Apply here: www.justsecurity.org/just-securit...

Earlier this week, we sent an urgent letter to Israeli authorities expressing grave concerns regarding the plan to expand the hostilities in Gaza, as reflected in statements by the Minister of Defense. The list of signatories reflects a broad consensus among local international law academics.

Read my analysis here

Catch up to speed with weekday morning Podcast. Latest news on President Trump's federal and military actions toward DC Ukraine ceasefire talks FBI purge More. Much, much more. Drawing from wide range of reliable news reporting.

Last week, we sent the following grave warning to Prime Minister Netanyahu regarding the continuation and expansion of the war in Gaza.

הזמן אזל: הרעבה המונית בעזה וחובתו של העולם מאת טום דננבאום ואלכס דה ואל (Hebrew translation of essay) www.justsecurity.org/118239/%d7%9...

Just Security Out Loud Stay informed, wherever you are. justsecurityoutloud.buzzsprout.com

2/ The Presidents' letter: "According to the considered judgments of prominent legal experts within Israel ... these proposals would constitute serious violations of international law, amounting to war crimes and crimes against humanity." Here's the apparent referent (Israeli scholars' letter)

1/ An inflection point The Presidents of five Israeli universities send letter to Prime Minister Netanyahu (more have joined the letter since) Calling on Netanyahu - to address hunger crisis in Gaza - to issue an "unequivocal condemnation" of recents statements by ministers

Sadly, my year at Cologne ends. It's been an amazing experience to visit the Cologne Center for International History and Law @chlcologne.bsky.social, and a privilege to inaugurate the Kelsen Visiting Professorship there. Anyone working on these subjects should follow this exciting new Center!

Since the start of the Gaza war, leading Israeli legal scholars have written numerous letters raising concerns over grave international law violations. We are publishing these letters for the first time in a collected English edition, with a summary by Kai Ambos. verfassungsblog.de/internationa...

1700 Israeli academics, including Nobel laureates, university presidents, provosts and deans send a clear message to Israeli government: do not pursue the population concentration plan in Gaza, as this is immoral, and would constitute a war crime and a crime against humanity.

Guess it’s time for Netanyahu to bomb someone

Thanks @timesofisrael.com for this detailed and in-depth report. www.timesofisrael.com/manifestly-i...

#ICJ judges must be perceived to embody impartiality. Roy Schondorf and Ava Drai argue that clearer ethical boundaries on perceived conflicts of interest must be developed to preserve the Court's continued authority and legitimacy. www.justsecurity.org/117167/judic...

Glad to see that @nytimes.com quoted our letter on the minister of defense's "plan" to push civilians in Gaza to a tent city in Rafah. There is still time to backtrack from this awful and illegal idea. www.nytimes.com/2025/07/14/w...

I am proud of my friends who wrote and signed this statement. Thank you!

Our letter was quoted by the Wall Street Journal. Full texe here: www.justsecurity.org/116904/israe...

Group of Israeli international law scholars send urgent letter to Israel’s Minister of Defense, IDF Chief of Staff, and Attorney General On plan to "concentrate" Palestinian population in South Gaza via @eliavl.bsky.social and @tamarmegiddo.bsky.social

Just uploaded an updated version of this article that includes reference to recent events such as the Iran-Israel war and the India-Pakistan clashes. Download here: papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....

Forget the illegality. You don't even need one semester of law school to realize that. Above all, the fact that in 2025 a defense minister of a sovereign state feels comfortable even saying such a thing out loud is a sign of a world utterly and completely broken.

What: Important discussion on Los Angeles and use of U.S. military Where: Pop-up YouTube Live⤵️ When: Thursday 11am ET Who: I'll moderate this panel of top experts @lizagoitein.bsky.social Mary McCord (@icapgeorgetown.bsky.social) @stevevladeck.bsky.social What Qs do you want us to address?

🚨 Volume 26 (2023) of the Yearbook of International Humanitarian Law is now available! It features two chapters on ‘Humanitarian Actors’, two general chapters, and the ‘Year in Review’ that covers IHL-related developments throughout 2023. Link here: link.springer.com/book/10.1007...

rgent and immensely important call on the IDF chief of staff "to immediately allow and facilitate rapid an unimpeded humanitarian aid into Gaza" by @eliavl.bsky.social and other Israeli international law scholars. Read worthy, both from a legal and a humanitarian perspective.

This explicit turn to reprisals ("eye for an eye") has everything to do with the current weakness of bodies like the Security Council. www.nytimes.com/2025/05/10/w...

Looking forward to @esil-sedi.bsky.social's 2025 Annual Conference, and to chairing Agora 11 on Rethinking the Laws of War. Full programme and registration here: esil2025.de

Overall great meeting, small disagreement regarding Canada's sovereignty