WCC NEWS: Webinar considers legal realities—and crimes against humanity—in Palestine and Israel

A webinar on 21 May, “From Occupation to Annexation: Legal perspectives and the implications of current political realities for the occupied population,” examined legal realities in Palestine and Israel—even as the grim situation on the ground are changing by the hour. EAPPI Webinar: “From occupation to annexation" 21 May 2025 The webinar kicked off a new World Council of Churches (WCC) campaign, “Stop annexation, end the occupation.” The campaign, which is running from 21 May to 11 June, is set to raise awareness regarding the realities of daily life under occupation and the related violations of international law, including forced displacement, de-facto annexation, and discrimination. Speakers in the webinar offered insights into legal perspectives, a window into current political realities, and suggestions to help raise awareness and share accurate information.  Rev. Dr Kenneth Mtata, WCC programme director for Life, Justice, and Peace, offered an opening welcome, noting that the webinar and the campaign are organized by the WCC Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel.  “One of the clearest expressions of this Decade to Overcome Violence was the Ecumenical Accompaniment Programme in Palestine and Israel,” he said, describing how ecumenical accompaniers bear witness to human rights violations.  "Their testimonies have been vital in exposing daily injustices and in reminding the world of our shared responsibilities,” said Mtata. Speakers in the webinar delivered their remarks with the backdrop of an International Court of Justice advisory opinion, delivered on 19 July, on Israel’s presence in the Palestinian land occupied since the 1967 war. The advisory opinion deemed Israel’s rule in the territory unlawful. “The opinion calls not only on Israel to end occupation but also on all states to take active steps to ensure compliance with international law,” said Mtata. Michael Sfard, an Israeli lawyer specializing in human rights law, began by acknowledging the rapid changes in Palestine and Israel amid the current conflict. “The description of what’s going a month ago is not true to what it is today,” he said.  He outlined three areas in which there are serious legal concerns: the illegal annexation that the West Bank is going through; the forced transfers; and Jewish supremacy and apartheid.  Sfard also brought the “crimes against humanity” in Gaza to the forefront. Randa George Yacoub Siniora, a Palestinian human rights and women's rights activist, spoke of how Palestinians have lived under prolonged occupation, and now face illegal annexation—one she described as a “creeping annexation” that is a subtle undermining of human rights.  “The results are what we see now: Israelis trying to appropriate more land and expand on settlements,” she said.  She also noted that women are disproportionately affected in Palestine by illegal annexation as well as war in Gaza—and their stories are vitally important. “The testimonies we get are a means to accompany the voices of women in their suffering and to engage women in speaking about their own experiences,” she said.  Like Sfard, she said that Gaza simply cannot be ignored. “Gaza is now on the threshold of collapse,” she said. “There is no safe haven in the Gaza Strip.” The “Stop annexation, end the occupation” campaign is running from 21 May to 11 June, highlighting local voices candidly communicating about the realities of daily life under occupation and how violations of international law affect individuals, families, and communities. Campaign: Stop annexation - end the occupation Read, download and share: Voices from the field – lived realities on the ground Next upcoming WCC-EAPPI webinar, 5 June 2025: "Accompaniment, solidarity and joint action for justice and peace" Factsheet: From Occupation to Annexation – the West Bank including East Jerusalem Factsheet: International Court of Justice Advisory Opinion  WCC-EAPPI Panelists engaged in conversation. Upper left: Randa Sinior; Upper right: session moderator George Sahhar; Lower centre: Michael Sfard Photo: WCC See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 352 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 580 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Jerry Pillay from the Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches Chemin du Pommier 42 Kyoto Building Le Grand-Saconnex CH-1218 Switzerland