OUT NOW: Our new report finds UK defence is ill-prepared to protect civilians from harm from UK military operations. Full report: www.ceasefire.org/uk-defence-i...

Happening In Belfast tomorrow ⬇️ Please repost for colleagues in Northern Ireland!

"Ukraine reserved the right to decide how to allocate resources, Ms Mudra said, adding that some would have to go towards other sectors like reconstruction and victim compensation." At least some of the "reparations loan" should be spent on #reparations for victims. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Crushing opinion on Israel’s obligations just dropped from Intl Court of Justice. In findings that rely heavily on IHL, ICJ says that Israel’s duty under GCIV Art59 to facilitate relief schemes if the local population is inadequately supplied is *unconditional*, incl. relief provided by UNRWA. 1/3

My latest on military necessity and humanity in the law of war, for @articlesofwar.bsky.social . Check out the whole series, in honour of Françoise Hampson. lieber.westpoint.edu/calibrating-...

Over 5,000 Ukrainians have been released from Russian prisons, many in appalling condition. They need immediate support. Don't let Merz spend the reparations loan all on weapons. 🔽

The British Army did this when it sent 1 Para into Derry to police a civil rights March in 1972. Twenty-six civilians were shot and it’s still causing headlines over half a century later. #BloodySunday

You may or may not agree with Merz that “these additional funds are solely used to finance Ukraine’s military equipment” but to argue that they should be repaid from funds Russia pays to compensate Ukraine for war damage is disingenuous & weakens the case for #reparations. www.ft.com/content/3aac...

If you’re at the UN Human Rights Council this Friday, join us to discuss human rights and justice in #Syria #HRC60 With thanks to Syrians for Truth and Justice, IMPAC, Cairo Institute et al. @ceasefirecentre.bsky.social

Many thanks to @justsecurity.org for publishing my short article, "Sanctions against Israel: An International Law Perspective". Access it below ⤵️

Ahead of the Trump-Zelensky meeting, re-upping our recent piece on why #reparations for Ukraine may be winnable in a Ukraine-Russia Deal www.lawfaremedia.org/article/repa...

A huge thanks to Mark Lattimer (@mglattimer.bsky.social), Chantal Meloni (@chamelons.bsky.social), Brian Finucane (@bcfinucane.bsky.social), and Jake Romm (@jakeromm.bsky.social) for speaking with me for the piece, which you can read here: theintercept.com/2025/08/06/i...

Significant 🔽 If it is Israel's position that there may be starvation in Gaza but that Gazans are not being starved *intentionally*, this mirrors Israel's position with regard to civilian deaths from kinetic attacks. I wrote on the int law implications of this here: papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....

“…many experts in IHL argue that a fixation on a genocide verdict could be a dangerous distraction, delaying decisive action by the international community as it waits for an ICJ verdict while demonstrable crimes against humanity are allowed to continue.” www.theguardian.com/law/2025/jul...

The French ruling upholding head of state immunity is disappointing but hardly a surprise after the ICJ's ruling in the Arrest Warrant case. But that immunity doesn't cover Assad now that he is no longer head of state -- including for crimes committed while in office. apnews.com/article/fran...

PhD funded studentship application deadline next week: Three year funded PhD studentship on #AI in war and a focus on civilian harm with 6 months working with Ceasefire Centre for Civilian Rights. Check out the details here: www.qub.ac.uk/schools/Scho...

On another unspeakably grim day for Palestinians in Gaza, I talked to @aljazeeraenglish.bsky.social about starvation as a war crime. mediaview.aljazeera.com/video/qDghRd...

As the U.S. administration pushes for a third round of Ukraine-Russia peace talks, Michael Raff and @mglattimer.bsky.social argue that historical precedent and financial leverage offer hope that reparations for conflict-related harm may be attainable in a future deal.

Why do we know that negotiations could deliver #reparations for #Ukraine? Because it's happened before. My latest with Michael Raff for @lawfaremedia.org www.lawfaremedia.org/article/repa...

“The UK must approach Ukraine reparations not as a distant post-conflict project, but as a current and urgent imperative.” @maethompson.bsky.social at packed @ceasefirecentre.bsky.social event in Parliament last night. Thx to @alexsobel.co.uk for his leadership on Ukraine #reparations

"...some of the legal arguments being used to justify Israel’s action against Iran are exactly the same as those used by Russia to justify invading Ukraine." "The core legal argument is the same." www.ejiltalk.org/the-illegal-...

Transparency on official legal advice is essential to democratic control of war powers, as recommended in recent report from @ceasefirecentre.bsky.social Here: bit.ly/4lc4MHI www.theguardian.com/politics/202...

As speculation rises about the UK’s potential involvement in the Israel-Iran conflict, one thing is clear: Parliament should have the power to say no. Read our report on war powers reform: bit.ly/4lc4MHI

Latest figs from HRANA on Iran casualties from Israeli attacks 🔽 (see www.en-hrana.org ) Fatalities in Israel currently = 24.

SAVE THE DATE – 7 July, 17.00, House of Commons Join us in marking the UK launch of our recent report with an expert panel to discuss how the UK can support reparations for civilian harm in Ukraine. Chaired by Alex Sobel MP and Sir Iain Duncan Smith MP RSVP: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/how-can-th...

Extremely important topic. Look forward to reading.

Does the law of targeting require objective or subjective tests to determine state responsibility for violations? Israel/US now shifting to subjective tests of intention - with grave consequences for civilians. My latest, forthcoming in @yearbookofihl.bsky.social : papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....

Amid a surge in grave violations against children in conflict, we call on #UNSG António Guterres to publish a complete list of perpetrators in his 2025 Children and Armed Conflict report. #CAAC #CivilianRights www.ceasefire.org/ceasefire-jo...

Condemnation of Israel’s latest Gaza campaign has focused on the illegal means employed. But the jus ad bellum is also engaged. “Israel’s current military offensive in Gaza is illegal in its entirety”. @adhaque.bsky.social www.justsecurity.org/113868/israe...

"Urgent and decisive action is required to avert the destruction of the Palestinian population of Gaza." UK judges' and lawyers' letter to PM Keir Starmer. Full legal memorandum here: lawyersletter.uk/wp-content/u...

Thinking today of Françoise Hampson. Françoise was my first IHL teacher. She dismantled for ever my scepticism that law could constrain conduct in war. Thank you to Başak Çali for capturing 🔽 some of what made Françoise one of a kind. @universityofessex.bsky.social www.ejiltalk.org/in-memoriam-...

It should go without saying that targeting civilian officials is NOT lawful. Just because Israel does it doesn't make it right.

🔽 Military lawyers are not fooled.

Will the UK follow suit? Once the Afghanistan Inquiry reports, it may well need to do so

Ahead of the Security Council Open Debate on Protection of Civilians, we’ve joined 20 other NGOs in calling for urgent action by the international community to protect civilians and uphold their rights. #CivilianRights #NotATarget #PoCWeek2025 bit.ly/4duRGCW

Welcome statement but why again the hesitant language that Israel “risks breaching” IHL? If humanitarian access is “wholly inadequate” and Israel’s conduct “egregious”, then we need to call a violation. www.gov.uk/government/n...

Deputy Prosecutors stepping up are Mame Mandiaye Niang from Senegal and Nazhat Shameem Khan from Fiji. apnews.com/article/un-i...

To defend its aid block, Israel relies on 3 incoherent arguments: 1 There is no hunger in Gaza 2 There needs to be hunger in Gaza to pressure Hamas 3 Gazans go hungry because Hamas is stealing food. 1 is untrue; 2 is unlawful; 3 partially true but ignores main cause www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bg-N...

Important article by @mollyquell.bsky.social‬ But see also court victory by Human Rights First yesterday in the case of one US staffer: humanrightsfirst.org/library/vict...

Our colleague @jessicadorsey.bsky.social "The Israelis seem to have eroded all recognisable understandings within the law of who constitutes a civilian, narrowing that category, almost to an unrecognisable level and therefore broadening the people that they see fit to be targeted."

‘Killing of detainees "became routine", the veteran said. "They'd search someone, handcuff them, then shoot them".’ www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Meanwhile, the last remaining medical services in Gaza are being eliminated

With Ukraine airspace closed, visitors to Kyiv typically fly in to Krakow and take the sleeper train across the border from Przemysl. On this particular week, it is a poignant journey. For the 11-hour trip passes through the centre of the Nazi killing fields. #VEDay #VE80 Short🧵

Compelling evidence from Ukrainian survivors of Russian detention and torture at our Civil Society-Government Roundtable in Kyiv. #Reparations #UkraineWar

"The UK believes that UNRWA is an impartial humanitarian organisation" under the terms of Geneva Convention IV. Strong defence right now of humanitarian obligations under GCIV by UK at the #ICJ in the ongoing hearings on Israel's obligations.

With the UK last night conducting an air strike south of Sana'a, the Labour gov joins the US war in Yemen for the first time. The so-called convention to consult Parliament on military action now seems dead in the water. www.gov.uk/government/n...

US military lawyers have been slow to criticise Israel because they are preparing to adopt a similar approach. “What I can say is that the systems and processes that the I.D.F. implemented are very similar to what we would implement in a similar battle space.” www.newyorker.com/news/the-led...

As civilian deaths rise and the Geneva Conventions come under attack, can we still make a difference? See Ceasefire's new Strategy here 🔽 www.ceasefire.org/strategy-202...

UK government has just removed sanctions on a further raft of Syrian entities, incl. interior & defence ministries, intelligence & security agencies and state-linked newspapers and TV. Notice here: assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6809ea...

Great piece by my colleague @maethompson.bsky.social and the magisterial Elizabeth Stubbins Bates