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Mike Becker

@mikebecker.bsky.social

1.4K followers 520 following 240 posts

Assistant Professor (Trinity College Dublin, School of Law). Public International Law, International Courts and Tribunals, ICJ, ITLOS, International Human Rights Law, Fact-Finding and Inquiry, Law of the Sea

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Mike Becker @mikebecker.bsky.social · 8d

Whether they’re fishermen or drug smugglers, it’s unlawful either way.

Reposted by Mike Becker

Gerhard Kemp @gerhardkempicl.bsky.social · 15d

A few comments on the current situation regarding SA’s case against Israel, with colleagues @mikebecker.bsky.social & Juliette McIntyre.
#GazaGenocide

www.middleeasteye.net/explainers/i...

Israel’s genocide in Gaza: What happened to South Africa’s case at the ICJ?

A verdict may not come for at least another two years - why the delay?

www.middleeasteye.net

Reposted by Mike Becker

Brian Finucane @bcfinucane.bsky.social · 18d

Spoke with @washingtonpost.com about the absence of legal justification for the U.S. government’s premeditated killing of people aboard boats in the Caribbean.

“In essence, the President is asserting a license to kill outside the law.”

www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

U.S. kills 3 in another strike on ‘narcoterrorists’ vessel, Trump says

The strike marks the third such attack on boats alleged to be carrying illicit drugs this month. Experts have questioned the legality of the strikes.

www.washingtonpost.com

Mike Becker @mikebecker.bsky.social · 21d

In sum, the COI’s wide-ranging report makes several compelling points. Its conclusions align with those of many experts who have come to the view that the evidence can support a finding of genocide in Gaza. But I am also not sure that the argument has been fully made out here.

Mike Becker @mikebecker.bsky.social · 21d

The COI’s recommendation that states meet their obligations by cooperating with the ICC makes sense. I am less persuaded by the suggestion (¶250) that states should intervene in South Africa v Israel at the ICJ case to fulfil those responsibilities.

Mike Becker @mikebecker.bsky.social · 21d

In my view, the ICJ’s Jan 2024 provisional measures order already established a serious risk & triggered third-state duties. At a minimum, the COI report reaffirms the risk. For the UK or EU states debating the future of the EU-Israel trade association, perhaps this matters.

Mike Becker @mikebecker.bsky.social · 21d

For third states, this report should clear away any remaining doubt that there is at least a ‘serious risk’ of genocide in Gaza. Per the ICJ, this requires states to take action to prevent genocide and avoid complicity, including by suspending military assistance to Israel.

Mike Becker @mikebecker.bsky.social · 21d

In the pending cases relating to Gaza, the ICJ may need to do more than it has in some past cases to understand how this COI carried out its work and whether specific objections to the report’s analysis have merit or require follow-up.

Mike Becker @mikebecker.bsky.social · 21d

The ICJ is more likely to credit a COI’s factual findings than its legal conclusions. How a COI applied the law may be of interest, but the ICJ will conduct its own legal analysis, not simply defer to the COI’s conclusions on commission of genocide or incitement.

Mike Becker @mikebecker.bsky.social · 21d

But this & the COI’s other work will undoubtedly find its way into the record in South Africa v Israel at the ICJ. Parties often ask the ICJ to rely on third-party fact-finding reports, and the ICJ will do so in certain circumstances (as I discuss here: www.cambridge.org/core/journal...).

Recent developments in reliance upon third-party fact-finding at the International Court of Justice | Leiden Journal of International Law | Cambridge Core

Recent developments in reliance upon third-party fact-finding at the International Court of Justice

www.cambridge.org

Mike Becker @mikebecker.bsky.social · 21d

What impact will this report have? First, it is not a judgment. Moreover, the COI’s ‘reasonable grounds’ standard of proof differs from the ICJ’s ‘fully convincing’ standard or a criminal ‘beyond a reasonable doubt’ standard (although it then adopts the ICJ standard, ¶220).

Mike Becker @mikebecker.bsky.social · 21d

Israel has predictably attacked the report. But Israel refuses to engage with the COI that it now accuses of using false/incomplete information. At this point, the burden is on Israel to rebut the COI’s specific findings & conclusions (and it will have that chance at the ICJ).

Mike Becker @mikebecker.bsky.social · 21d

Ultimately, the allegation that Israel is committing genocide is linked to the idea that systematic IHL violations can demonstrate genocidal intent. Did the COI do enough to make that case & connect the dots? South Africa will probably need to do more on this to persuade the ICJ.

Mike Becker @mikebecker.bsky.social · 21d

As legal analysis, some parts of the report are more compelling than others. The COI might have put itself on stronger footing by addressing predictable counterarguments in greater detail (namely, Israel's claims about military necessity, compliance with IHL, and Hamas's role).

Mike Becker @mikebecker.bsky.social · 21d

For the COI, this refusal to change course weighs heavily and points to genocidal intent. It might also suggest that if Israel had taken any number of ‘off-ramps’ at earlier points in the post-7 October conflict, genocidal intent would be harder to establish.

Mike Becker @mikebecker.bsky.social · 21d

A recurring theme in the report is Israel’s refusal to alter its approach as the death toll has risen & the humanitarian crisis deepened (¶48). Instead, Israel has defied ICJ orders (¶195) and doubled down (¶181), even as its approach has failed to secure release of the hostages.

Mike Becker @mikebecker.bsky.social · 21d

The COI’s account of Israel’s siege tactics, deprivation of food, destruction of hospitals, housing and infrastructure, and repeated forced displacements builds to the COI’s conclusion that Israel's actions cannot reasonably be explained by anything other than genocidal intent.

Mike Becker @mikebecker.bsky.social · 21d

In my view, the most effective part of the report is where it sets out its findings on acts ‘deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction’ (¶¶ 83-147).

Mike Becker @mikebecker.bsky.social · 21d

It also finds that Israel has failed to punish incitement for genocide, citing statements by Isaac Herzog, PM Netanyahu, and Yoav Gallant. The COI had previously found that Israel was committing war crimes & crimes against humanity in Gaza; here, the focus is genocide.

Mike Becker @mikebecker.bsky.social · 21d

The 16 Sept 2025 report (here: www.ohchr.org/sites/defaul...) concludes that Israel is responsible for the ongoing commission of genocidal acts in Gaza. It considers that 4 of 5 categories of genocidal acts in Art II of the 1948 Convention have been committed with genocidal intent.

Mike Becker @mikebecker.bsky.social · 21d

Some initial observations on yesterday’s report by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Palestine and Israel, led by former UN High Commission for Human Rights Navi Pillay. #Gaza

Mike Becker @mikebecker.bsky.social · 28d

It was great to present (w/Cecily Rose) on dialogue between ICJ judges & counsel at the Sixth Scottish Conference on International Law at the University of Glasgow this week. Many thanks to @jamesgdevaney.bsky.social, @cjtams.bsky.social, @matinapapadaki.bsky.social for hosting a marvelous event.

Reposted by Mike Becker

Ryan Goodman @rgoodlaw.bsky.social · Sep 3

1/ I worked at DoD. I literally cannot imagine lawyers coming up with a legal basis for lethal strike of suspected Venezuelan drug boat.

Hard to see how this would not be "murder" or war crime under international law that DoD considers applicable.

Read expert analysis by @bcfinucane.bsky.social⤵️

Legal Issues Raised by a Lethal U.S. Military Attack in the Caribbean

The Trump administration’s extraordinary lethal attack on this purported smuggling vessel raises significant potential legal issues.

www.justsecurity.org

Mike Becker @mikebecker.bsky.social · Aug 25

Well, anyone can argue anything, of course. As I was quoted in the piece, however, I don't think Article 38 covers the word of God.

Mike Becker @mikebecker.bsky.social · Aug 25

Some more reporting from on ICJ Judge Sebutinde's controversial remarks about 'standing on the side of Israel', with comments from me, @drnajimagi.bsky.social, and @sevslv.bsky.social. www.middleeasteye.net/news/after-r....

After recent comments, should Julia Sebutinde still serve on Israel cases at the ICJ?

Legal experts say that impartiality of world court's vice president may come under question after she said God was 'counting on' her to stand with Israel

www.middleeasteye.net