On the show this month, we talk to Ray Murphy, a human rights lawyer and professor at the Irish Centre for Human Rights in Galway. Ray talks about the current situation in Gaza and the legality of the Israel-Hamas war.

Ray says he believes the only way the current humanitarian crisis in Gaza will be truly tackled is through international law and the framework of international law. But he, too, stresses the importance of political will - an aspect of international law a previous guest, Kate Gibson has also talked about.

Ray discusses the South Africa genocide legal challenge against Israel before the International Court of Justice and how he believes there is a good case for genocide because, he says, innocent civilians have been targeted. He describes the Israeli military’s response to the 2023 Hamas October 7th attacks as “totally disproportionate” and the consequences “quite horrific.”

As the primary judicial organ of the United Nations, the International Court of Justice is, in Ray’s view, the most prestigious and authoritative international court, describing the court as “a very effective mechanism for adjudicating disputes or seeking clarification on legal issues.” He says its rulings are not binding, but carry political weight.

Ray Murphy questions Germany’s staunch support of Israel, in light of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, asking, “What is it about Germany and its support for Israel that makes it somewhat blind towards the horrific, catastrophic, awful human situation that is currently being inflicted on the Palestinian civilian population of Gaza?”

Ray also discusses the constitution of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide as a backdrop to the various legal explorations underway related to the war, and indeed to Israeli practices affecting the human rights of the Palestinian people in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

Presented and produced by Evelyn McClafferty.

With thanks to our donors: Irish Aid.

Note: The views and opinions expressed in this episode do not necessarily represent those of IRLI or Irish Aid.