Gaza Tribunal Concludes in Istanbul with Allegations of Systematic Destruction of Education and Public Infrastructure
Witnesses and experts at the Gaza Tribunal’s final session in Istanbul on Sunday delivered detailed accounts alleging that Israel has deliberately targeted Gaza’s education system and other civilian infrastructure, warning of long-term consequences for Palestinian society.
During Friday’s session, Palestinian academics, journalists and relief workers described widespread damage to schools, universities and learning resources in the enclave. According to Anadolu Agency, testimony highlighted what participants called a coordinated dismantling of “intellectual capacity,” including the destruction of Gaza’s largest higher-education institutions and academic archives.
Sevjan Al-Shami, a Palestinian mathematician, said the Islamic University of Gaza — one of the territory’s premier universities — had its buildings, library collections and staff targeted, resulting in significant loss of academic life. Families who relied on schools for stability have instead been forced into makeshift shelters, according to Inas Hamdan of UNRWA.
Journalists described losing years’ worth of research, certificates and professional work. Mahmoud Haniyeh warned that ambitions for future generations had shifted drastically: “We only want our children to be able to write and read.”
The four-day tribunal, held at Istanbul University, brought together international jurists, civil society representatives and subject-matter specialists to document alleged violations of international law in Gaza. The initiative followed earlier hearings in Sarajevo and other locations, focusing on themes including starvation, environmental destruction and forced displacement.
A “moral judgment” issued by the Tribunal’s Jury of Conscience — chaired by legal scholar Christine Chinkin and presided over by former UN Special Rapporteur Richard Falk — concluded that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and employing methods of collective punishment. The statement accused Israel and supporting states of breaching obligations to prevent atrocities and demanded international action, including activation of UN mechanisms, accountability measures and protection for Palestinian self-determination.
Members acknowledged that the Tribunal has no legal enforcement authority, describing its findings instead as a comprehensive “people’s record” intended to preserve evidence and amplify calls for accountability. Organizers said they aim to compile the testimony and expert reports into an archive documenting violations and alleged complicity by global actors.
The initiative stressed that its conclusions are grounded in international legal standards and the belief that “every human life has equal worth,” asserting that silence in response to alleged crimes would constitute complicity.
