Together For Justice: Meet Basel al-Sourani

“As much as we need the ICC, the ICC needs Palestine to enhance the Court's legitimacy and avoid any claims of selectivity and double standards.” 

Basel al-Sourani, from the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR), underscores the vital role of international justice mechanisms, particularly the International Criminal Court (ICC), in addressing the longstanding, historical injustices endured by the Palestinians. For Basel, the ICC's involvement is not only crucial for achieving accountability in Palestine but also essential for enhancing the Court's legitimacy on the global stage. 

Basel asserts that the ICC needs to actively engage with the situation in Palestine to demonstrate its commitment to impartial justice and to dispel any perceptions of selectivity or double standards.  

Basel believes that two critical steps toward justice are issuing arrest warrants against those responsible for serious crimes and ensuring that States Parties to the Rome Statute fulfil their legal obligations. These actions, Basel argues, are essential for holding perpetrators accountable and advancing the cause of justice in Palestine. 

Having exhausted other avenues, including universal jurisdiction, Basel views the ICC as the last resort for holding perpetrators accountable. Basel calls upon the international community to support these efforts, asserting that such actions will strengthen both the pursuit of justice for Palestinians and the credibility of the ICC itself. 

 

About the Palestinian Center for Human Rights (PCHR)

The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) is an independent Palestinian human rights organisation based in Gaza City. The Centre was established in 1995 by a group of Palestinian lawyers and human rights activists in order to: 

  • Protect human rights and promote the rule of law in accordance with international standards. 

  • Create and develop democratic institutions and an active civil society, while promoting democratic culture within Palestinian society. 

  • Support all the efforts aimed at enabling the Palestinian people to exercise its inalienable rights in regard to self-determination and independence in accordance with international Law and UN resolutions. 

The work of the Centre is conducted through documentation and investigation of human rights violations, provision of legal aid and counseling for both individuals and groups, and preparation of research articles relevant to such issues as the human rights situation and the rule of law. The Centre also provides comments on Palestinian Draft Laws and urges the adoption of legislation that incorporates international human rights standards and basic democratic principles. To achieve its goals, the Centre has recruited a committed staff of well-known human rights lawyers and activists. 

Learn more about PCHR at: