Jacobin Radio Long Reads: Prosecuting Israel’s Genocide w/ John Reynolds
Nov 27, 2025
Join John Reynolds, a law professor at Maynooth University and an expert in international law, as he explores the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza and recent international legal developments. He discusses South Africa's groundbreaking ICJ case accusing Israel of genocide, the ICC's warrant for Benjamin Netanyahu, and the challenges these bodies face amid political pressure. Reynolds also delves into innovative legal tactics being used against corporate complicity and shares insights on how U.S. dynamics might shape future ICJ rulings.
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ICJ's Preventive Power Matters
- The ICJ can issue provisional measures to prevent genocide even before final judgment.
- Reynolds emphasizes the court's preventive role under the Genocide Convention by ordering immediate measures.
Orders Met With Immediate Noncompliance
- Israel flagrantly ignored provisional orders and intensified operations, including bombing Rafah after the May 2024 order.
- Reynolds highlights immediate non-compliance, citing repeated strikes and so-called tent massacres.
Advisory Opinion Backs UNRWA Role
- The ICJ advisory opinion affirmed Israel's obligations to facilitate UN agencies and humanitarian access in Gaza.
- The court found Israel's allegations against UNRWA unsubstantiated and said UNRWA's role is indispensable.
