Mike Becker
@mabecker17
Assistant Professor @TCDLawSchool. Previously International Court of Justice (@CIJ_ICJ). @YaleLawSch, @ENS_ULM, @AmherstCollege. http://mikebecker.bsky.social
I joined @dwnews immediately after the #ICJ handed down it's 13-2 decision in #SouthAfrica v #Israel today to provide some instant reaction. dw.com/en/icj-orders-…
Useful thread to follow here on the #ICJ climate change opinion. My two big questions coming in: Will the ICJ say anything useful, perhaps especially in terms of climate litigation in domestic courts? Will the ICJ say anything harmful that undercuts the work of climate activists?
🔥⚖️🌐HAPPENING NOW: Historic #ClimateJustice Ruling being delivered by the 🇺🇳🧑⚖️ @CIJ_ICJ International Court of Justice - this ruling could signal a new dawn for climate law & accountability 📝🧵Live thread below with context, summary and analysis 👇 #ClimateJusticeAO #AOLetsGo
PRESS RELEASE: The #ICJ will deliver its Advisory Opinion on the Obligations of States in respect of Climate Change on 23 July 2025 at 3 p.m. (The Hague). Watch live on @UNWebTV. Link to the press release: go.icj-cij.org/3TYEeOt
Agree with @AdHaque110’s points here but would emphasize that there is no reason or expectation that South Africa v Israel will take anywhere near as long as the ICJ’s previous Genocide Convention cases, each of which involved complex jurisdictional questions not present here.
This piece is mostly excellent (unsurprising since it extensively quotes Juliette and Mike). 1. ICJ cases move *very* slowly. Bosnia v. Serbia took 14 years. Croatia v. Serbia took 16 years. There are many procedural steps and the Court regularly grants extensions. 1/🧵
For almost 2 years, the claim of mass aid diversion by Hamas has been the pretext for Israel's illegal policy of obstructing & restricting aid to Gaza. It was never plausible. Now, as starvation deaths mount, senior Israeli military officials admit that it was a lie.
Senior Israeli military officials tell the NYT they never found evidence Hamas systematically stole UN aid and that the UN aid delivery system was largely effective nytimes.com/2025/07/26/wor…
I'm grateful to have joined @DapoAkandeLaw, Marko Milanovic and Philippa Webb on EJIL: The Podcast (@ejiltalk) to discuss: 1. the use of force by Israel & the US against Iran 2. the ECtHR Grand Chamber judgment in Ukraine & the Netherlands v. Russia Link in the next post.
“There can frankly be very little doubt that we are seeing starvation and hunger as an instrument of the war” “It is a historic fact that children die first in these circumstances. Our humanity cannot believe our eyes.”
2/“I am absolutely convinced that what’s going on in Gaza is a genocide, because the thing speaks for itself” - Former UN aid chief. More below ⬇️ middleeasteye.net/news/former-un…
#ICJ says fossil fuel production/consumption, granting fossil fuel exploration licenses, or providing fossil fuel subsidies may constitute internationally wrongful acts. This is getting into the zone of the ICJ going beyond what states will find politically acceptable. Risky.
By sanctioning a UN Special Rapporteur, the US may be in violation of the 1946 Convention on Privileges and Immunities of the UN. As an expert on UN mission, SR Albanese is entitled to immunity from legal process of any kind. Which UN member will take the US to the ICJ over this?
What is shameful and illegitimate is this move by the US to retaliate against @FranceskAlbs for her principled, courageous and effective work as UN Special Rapporteur. This is part of the broader pattern of Trumpian frontal assault on international accountability institutions.
One of the worst legislative processes I’ve seen. No bill text STILL, almost a trillion out of Medicaid, a subsidy to move a space shuttle to Texas, a statue garden, 4 trillion in debt, random goodies to buy votes. Hospitals will close and kids will go hungry. Trash.
Trump's terrible decision to abandon #JCPOA in 2018 was and remains indefensible. A foreign policy blunder of epic proportions. Excellent piece by Gregory Craig that lays out Trump's continuing strategic idiocy re #Iran. justsecurity.org/115325/trump-d…
