«Il n‘y a pas un monde développé et un monde sous-développé, mais un seul monde mal développé»
PRESS RELEASE
jointly issued by IADL and CETIM, Geneva, 2 October 2025
The International Association of Democratic Lawyers (IADL) and the CETIM acknowledge the so-called “peace plan” proposal presented by Donald Trump on September 29, 2025, for Gaza. While an immediate and unconditional ceasefire is an absolute urgency to end the ongoing genocide, any political solution must be firmly anchored in international law.
International Law as an Imperative Framework
Any approach to peace must be based on international law and must guarantee the full realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, above all the right to self-determination and sovereignty. The end of Israel’s colonial occupation is an indispensable condition for a just and lasting peace. However, the proposed plan perpetuates a (neo)colonial framework of governance in Gaza, keeping it under external control, thus denying Palestinian self-determination.
Moreover, the immediate deployment of an “International Stabilization Force (ISF)” in Gaza, as outlined in the plan, amounts to the establishment of a new form of neocolonial occupation, aimed primarily at safeguarding the geopolitical interests of Israel and its allies rather than addressing the aspirations of the Palestinian people.
The Imperative of Justice
Peace cannot be negotiated at the cost of impunity. Perpetrators of acts of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity must be brought to Justice and must be hold into account. International law strictly prohibits any amnesty covering most serious crimes. Therefore, a peace plan without a transitional justice mechanisms violates this principle and denies victims of their right to truth and reparations.
The “Trump Plan” prioritizes Israel’s ‘security’, at the expenses of its obligation to be held accountable for its crimes, of Palestinian’s right to self-determination and of a multilateral approach under the auspices of the UN.
A Deceptive Initiative: The New York Declaration
The “Trump Plan” echoes the “New York Declaration”, outcome of the High-Level International Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Question of Palestine and the Implementation of the Two-State Solution, co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and France. This Declaration focuses on “peaceful coexistence” while obscuring the ongoing genocide and colonial occupation. It is another attempt to exempt Israel from any liability.
Our Appeal
We call on all States to respect and ensure international law, based on the UN Charter, which upholds the right of people to self-determination and to resist any form of colonial occupation. Respect for international law is not an option: it is the sine qua non condition for a just and lasting peace.
Read the press release in a PDF format
See also the joint statement of CETIM and IADL, presented today at the 60th session of the Human Rights Council, currently being held in Geneva.
IADL and CETIM
Geneva, 2 October 2025
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