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The Hague Initiative, an independent human rights organisation based in the Netherlands, has issued an international call for lawyers and legal professionals to unite in defending the independence of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and supporting justice for victims of genocide in Palestine.
In a statement released on Thursday, October 16, the group announced plans for a vigil outside the ICC headquarters in The Hague on Friday, October 24, urging lawyers worldwide to participate.
Those unable to travel were encouraged to hold parallel gatherings before local courts and bar associations in their respective countries.
The organisation expressed full solidarity with the ICC and reaffirmed its “unwavering endorsement” of the court’s mandate.
“We refuse to remain silent in the face of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity committed against the Palestinian people in Gaza and the West Bank,” the statement read.
The Hague Initiative called for the removal of all political and practical obstacles preventing the ICC from carrying out its work freely and independently.
It also demanded the lifting of all sanctions imposed on the court or its prosecutor, the issuance of arrest warrants against political and military figures implicated in war crimes in Palestine, and the unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip.
Human rights observers have noted growing pressure on the ICC following investigations into alleged atrocities committed during Israel’s war in Gaza, which has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians since October 2023.
The initiative’s statement reflects a rising wave of global legal solidarity calling for accountability and an end to impunity.
Organisers said the campaign aims to reaffirm the international community’s commitment to the rule of law, particularly in the face of mounting political threats against international justice mechanisms.
