Middle East Conference on international humanitarian law in Geneva canceled
Switzerland is canceling the conference planned for Friday on the application of the Geneva Conventions in the Middle East. The number of participants from various regions supporting the draft final declaration was insufficient.
06.03.2025, 18:36
SDA
This was communicated to the States Parties on Thursday. The format, to which 196 states parties were invited, was intended to lead to a reaffirmation of international humanitarian law (IHL). However, tensions rose in the weeks leading up to the meeting.
Israel, which accused Switzerland of pursuing a "revisionist" approach that would lead to new obligations, and the USA decided to boycott the meeting. According to Arab media reports, the Palestinians were about to do the same.
Switzerland had been mandated by the UN General Assembly in September to organize the conference within six months.
