Gaza humanitarian crisis discussed at TRT World Forum and in Madrid

At the TRT World Forum 2026 in Istanbul, panelists addressed the intersection of international law and the humanitarian collapse in Gaza. Former South African International Relations Minister Grace Naledi Mandisa Pandor stated that the situation in Gaza constitutes a genocide, noting that while many leaders previously rejected the term, it is now being widely accepted. Pandor also highlighted the inability of the current international legal framework to effectively enforce peace.

In Madrid, Palestinian Foreign Minister Farsin Agabekian Shahin addressed a panel regarding justice for the Palestinian people. Shahin alleged that Israel continues a systematic policy of starvation against civilians in the Gaza Strip despite existing ceasefires. She reported that hunger is being used as a weapon of war, disproportionately affecting women and children, and leading to deaths and the spread of disease due to deteriorating conditions in refugee camps. Shahin called on the international community to utilize universal jurisdiction mechanisms to hold those responsible for violations accountable.