Philippe Sands awarded Peace Prize of the German Book Trade

Philippe Sands, a British-French jurist and author, was awarded the 2026 Peace Prize of the German Book Trade at the Frankfurt Paulskirche. The award recognizes his lifelong commitment to international law, human rights, and the defense of justice through both legal practice and literary works.

In his acceptance speech, Sands addressed several critical global and domestic issues. He emphasized that peace requires justice and universal rules, warning against the rise of nationalism, populism, and the potential dangers of unregulated artificial intelligence.

Sands also used the platform to criticize what he termed Germany’s ‘indecent silence’ regarding Israel’s actions in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. He argued that criticizing violations of international law is not antisemitic but a necessary pursuit of truth. He called for an end to ‘debate restrictions’ in Germany, asserting that those who denounce crimes should not be silenced or punished for exercising their freedom of speech.