Samenvatting

Palestinians have been decades under military occupation by Israel. Occupation is under international law illegal. The right to self-determination of the Palestinian people has been breached since the occupation by Israel. The struggle for the recognition of this right is an ongoing one. The right to self -determination is not only a jus cogens norm within international law, but it also creates obligations on States based under the erga omnes rule. On October 7, 2023, Hamas led Palestinian militant group committed unprecedented atrocities by attacking a civilian population at a music festival in Israel. In response to these atrocities the Israel Defense Forces responded, based on the right to self-defense an extensive aerial bombardment and imposing a total blockade killing thousands Palestinian civilians. There are arguments given whether the response of Israel by committing so many atrocities, based on the world-wide media coverage, constitutes genocide. Furthermore, it discusses the legal implications of these actions within International law including the Geneva Conventions with regard to States obligations and universal jurisdiction on war crimes.