Dutch cowardice in the face of US and Israeli attacks?

The Rights Forum invites you to an urgent discussion with Fatou Bensouda, former Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Together, we will examine the growing pressure on the Court and the responsibilities of the international community and of the Netherlands as its host State.

The ICC was established to ensure accountability for the world’s gravest crimes. Yet today, the Court itself is under attack. For over ten years, Court officials and NGO workers have faced threats, intimidation, cyberattacks, and sanctions. Much of this has taken place in the Netherlands—with total impunity.

These sanctions and “thug-style” threats from Israel and the United States, in response to the ICC’s Palestine investigation, have raised serious concerns about the Court’s ability to function and the willingness of States to defend it.

As host state, the Netherlands has done little to prevent these pressures. Instead, it continues to treat those responsible as political allies, while failing to push for concrete protective measures at the European level, such as invoking the EU Blocking Statute to shield the Court from external interference.

What does this mean for international justice? And why has the Netherlands, as host State, failed to act effectively?

Speakers include:

Fatou Bensouda, former Prosecutor of the ICC, who will reflect on the real-world impact of sanctions on the Court’s work and independence. During her tenure, she and her family were subjected to direct threats and intimidation.

Ahmed Abofoul, legal advisor at Al-Haq, on how Palestinian human rights organisations are affected by sanctions. Al-Haq and other Palestinian NGOs have been targeted by the US and Israel for their work on human rights violations.

Kati Piri, member of the Dutch Parliament for PRO, offering a political perspective on the Netherlands’ responsibilities and possible action. She has called on the Dutch government investigate Israeli threats and to trigger the EU Blocking Statute to protect the Court.

The discussion will be moderated by dr. Giulia Pinzauti, Assistant Professor of International Law at Leiden University.

At a time when international justice is under pressure, this event asks a simple but urgent question: will the international community and the Netherlands stand up for the ICC—or let impunity prevail? 

Get your tickets now!

**Dutch cowardice in the face of US and Israeli attacks?**

_The Rights Forum invites you to an urgent discussion with_ **_Fatou Bensouda_**_, former Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC). Together, we will examine the growing pressure on the Court and the responsibilities of the international community and of the Netherlands as its host State._

The ICC was established to ensure accountability for the world’s gravest crimes. Yet today, the Court itself is under attack. For over ten years, Court officials and NGO workers have faced threats, intimidation, cyberattacks, and sanctions. Much of this has taken place in the Netherlands—with total [impunity](https://rightsforum.org/openbaar-ministerie-moet-israelische-inmenging-strafhof-onderzoeken/).

These sanctions and “thug-style” threats from Israel and the United States, in response to the ICC’s Palestine investigation, have raised serious concerns about the Court’s ability to function and the willingness of States to defend it.

As host state, the Netherlands has [done little](https://rightsforum.org/wat-doet-nederland-om-het-strafhof-te-beschermen-na-nieuwe-sancties-vs/) to prevent these pressures. Instead, it continues to treat those responsible as political allies, while failing to push for concrete protective measures at the European level, such as invoking the EU Blocking Statute to shield the Court from external interference.

What does this mean for international justice? And why has the Netherlands, as host State, failed to act effectively?

**Speakers include:**

*   **Fatou Bensouda**, former Prosecutor of the ICC, who will reflect on the real-world impact of sanctions on the Court’s work and independence. During her tenure, she and her family were subjected to direct threats and intimidation.
    
*   **Ahmed Abofoul**, legal advisor at Al-Haq, on how Palestinian human rights organisations are affected by sanctions. Al-Haq and other Palestinian NGOs have been targeted by the US and Israel for their work on human rights violations.
    
*   **Kati Piri**, member of the Dutch Parliament for PRO, offering a political perspective on the Netherlands’ responsibilities and possible action. She has called on the Dutch government investigate Israeli threats and to trigger the EU Blocking Statute to protect the Court.
    

The discussion will be moderated by dr. **Giulia Pinzauti**, Assistant Professor of International Law at Leiden University.

At a time when international justice is under pressure, this event asks a simple but urgent question: **will the international community and the Netherlands stand up for the ICC—or let impunity prevail?** 

Get your tickets now!

Failure to protect the ICC

*Sign-up now as a monthly donor of The Rights Forum via rightsforum.org/steun to become eligible for this discount ticket.

The Dries van Agt Lecture 2026 brings together two of the most influential voices in the global struggle for justice for Palestine: Dr. Naledi Pandor, South Africa’s former Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, and Prof. Noura Erakat, human rights lawyer and scholar at Rutgers University.

The annual lecture honours the legacy of Dries van Agt (1931–2024), former Prime Minister of the Netherlands and founder of The Rights Forum. After leaving office, Van Agt became a principled and unwavering advocate for Palestinian rights, insisting that Dutch and European policy be grounded in international law, human dignity, and equality. The lecture continues this commitment by inviting leaders and thinkers who exemplify the courage to uphold principles in the face of political pressure.

Naledi Pandor

This year’s keynote will be delivered by Dr. Naledi Pandor, whose moral clarity and principled leadership have placed South Africa at the forefront of international efforts to address grave violations of international law in Palestine. Under her guidance, South Africa brought the landmark genocide case against Israel before the International Court of Justice, reaffirming the enduring relevance of the Genocide Convention and the responsibility of all states to prevent atrocity crimes. Dr. Pandor’s leadership has resonated far beyond the courtroom, offering a powerful example of how states can act on principle rather than political expediency.

Noura Erakat

Following the keynote, Prof. Noura Erakat will offer a reflection informed by her acclaimed book, Justice for Some: Law and the Question of Palestine. Erakat argues that international law is not neutral terrain but a site of political struggle—one that can be used to either entrench injustice or advance liberation. Her analysis provides a vital framework for understanding both the promise and the limitations of legal strategies in the Palestinian context, and offers an essential complement to South Africa’s state-led approach at the ICJ.

Together, Dr. Pandor and Prof. Erakat will engage in a conversation moderated by Dutch historian Nadia Bouras (member of The Rights Forum’s Advisory Council), exploring the relationship between principled leadership, international law, and the ongoing pursuit of justice for Palestine. The discussion will examine how law can be mobilised in the service of accountability, what lessons can be drawn from the ICJ case, and how civil society, states, and international institutions might act collectively to uphold fundamental human rights principles.

The event continues the legacy of Dries van Agt by creating a space for honest, rigorous, and hopeful dialogue on one of the most urgent questions of our time: **How can international law serve justice rather than power in the case of Palestine?

Doors open: 19:00
Start lecture: 19:30**

_\*Sign-up now as a monthly donor of The Rights Forum_ via [rightsforum.org/steun](https://rightsforum.org/steun) to become eligible for this discount ticket.

The **Dries van Agt Lecture** **2026** brings together two of the most influential voices in the global struggle for justice for Palestine: **Dr. Naledi Pandor**, South Africa’s former Minister of International Relations and Cooperation, and **Prof. Noura Erakat**, human rights lawyer and scholar at Rutgers University.

The annual lecture honours the legacy of **Dries van Agt (1931–2024)**, former Prime Minister of the Netherlands and founder of _The Rights Forum_. After leaving office, Van Agt became a principled and unwavering advocate for Palestinian rights, insisting that Dutch and European policy be grounded in international law, human dignity, and equality. The lecture continues this commitment by inviting leaders and thinkers who exemplify the courage to uphold principles in the face of political pressure.

**Naledi Pandor**

This year’s keynote will be delivered by **Dr. Naledi Pandor**, whose moral clarity and principled leadership have placed South Africa at the forefront of international efforts to address grave violations of international law in Palestine. Under her guidance, South Africa brought the landmark **genocide case against Israel before the International Court of Justice**, reaffirming the enduring relevance of the Genocide Convention and the responsibility of all states to prevent atrocity crimes. Dr. Pandor’s leadership has resonated far beyond the courtroom, offering a powerful example of how states can act on principle rather than political expediency.

**Noura Erakat**

Following the keynote, **Prof. Noura Erakat** will offer a reflection informed by her acclaimed book, **_Justice for Some: Law and the Question of Palestine_**. Erakat argues that international law is not neutral terrain but a site of political struggle—one that can be used to either entrench injustice or advance liberation. Her analysis provides a vital framework for understanding both the promise and the limitations of legal strategies in the Palestinian context, and offers an essential complement to South Africa’s state-led approach at the ICJ.

Together, Dr. Pandor and Prof. Erakat will engage in a conversation moderated by Dutch historian **Nadia Bouras** (member of The Rights Forum’s Advisory Council), exploring the relationship between **principled leadership**, **international law**, and the ongoing pursuit of **justice for Palestine**. The discussion will examine how law can be mobilised in the service of accountability, what lessons can be drawn from the ICJ case, and how civil society, states, and international institutions might act collectively to uphold fundamental human rights principles.

The event continues the legacy of Dries van Agt by creating a space for honest, rigorous, and hopeful dialogue on one of the most urgent questions of our time: \*\*How can international law serve justice rather than power in the case of Palestine?

Doors open: 19:00  
Start lecture: 19:30\*\*

Dries van Agt-Lecture 2026

Israeli historian Ilan Pappé (1954), author of The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine and other prominent works, has played a crucial role in challenging the dominant Western narrative that presents Israel as a liberal democracy born in innocence. His work exposed the foundational violence and displacement at the heart of the Israeli state project. 

Palestinian journalist Mariam Barghouti (1993) documents from her home in the occupied West Bank how the process of dispossession and erasure continues today — through military occupation, segregation, and control over every aspect of Palestinian life. 

Yet in the Netherlands, as in much of the West, politicians and major media outlets largely cling to a sanitized image of Israel that bears little resemblance to reality. Poll after poll, however, shows that a growing majority of Dutch citizens wish to break with this long-held but false ideas about Israel and support meaningful action for Palestinian liberation. Why, then, does a just policy toward Palestine remain so elusive?

In this programme, Pappé and Barghouti connect past and present — exploring the persistence of colonial frames, the power of narrative, and the possibilities for change. 

Following the discussion, there will be time for questions from the audience. 

The event is moderated by Erella Grassiani - Associate Professor at the Department of Anthropology, University of Amsterdam.

Doors open: 13:00  
Start: 13:30   
End: 15:30

Want to see more events like this? Become a donor of The Rights Forum at rightsforum.org/steun-ons. (Ticket revenues do not cover all organizational costs.)

Israeli historian **Ilan Pappé** (1954), author of _The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine_ and other prominent works, has played a crucial role in challenging the dominant Western narrative that presents Israel as a liberal democracy born in innocence. His work exposed the foundational violence and displacement at the heart of the Israeli state project. 

Palestinian journalist **Mariam Barghouti** (1993) documents from her home in the occupied West Bank how the process of dispossession and erasure continues today — through military occupation, segregation, and control over every aspect of Palestinian life. 

Yet in the Netherlands, as in much of the West, politicians and major media outlets largely cling to a sanitized image of Israel that bears little resemblance to reality. Poll after poll, however, shows that a growing majority of Dutch citizens wish to break with this long-held but false ideas about Israel and support meaningful action for Palestinian liberation. Why, then, does a just policy toward Palestine remain so elusive?

In this programme, **Pappé** and **Barghouti** connect past and present — exploring the persistence of colonial frames, the power of narrative, and the possibilities for change. 

Following the discussion, there will be time for questions from the audience. 

The event is moderated by **Erella Grassiani -** Associate Professor at the Department of Anthropology, University of Amsterdam.

Doors open: 13:00    
Start: 13:30     
End: 15:30

_Want to see more events like this? Become a donor of The Rights Forum at_ [rightsforum.org/steun-ons.](https://rightsforum.org/steun-ons.) (_Ticket revenues do not cover all organizational costs.)_

The Rights Forum

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Failure to protect the ICC

Dries van Agt-Lecture 2026

In conversation with Ilan Pappé and Mariam Barghouti

May