The "War and Conflict in the Context of International Law" Conference, sponsored by the Ministry of Interior's General Directorate of Civil Society Relations, took place on November 19, 2025, at the Central Library's Sezai Karakoç Hall. The Istanbul Bar Association No. 2 and the Association of Constitutional Law Scholars co-organized the conference, which also included the Turkish Law Platform, the International Bar Association (IBA), and Kastamonu University. 

The program, hosted by our university, was attended by our Rector, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Hamdi Topal, President of the Istanbul Bar Association No. 2, Lawyer Yasin Şamlı, Vice President of the International Lawyers Association (ILA), Lawyer Uğur Faruk Tüzün, Vice President of Istanbul Bar Association No. 2, Niyazi Paksoy, our Vice Rectors, Prof. Dr. Ömer Küçük, Prof. Dr. Selahattin Kaymakcı, and Prof. Dr. Mehmet Atalan, along with numerous academics, administrative staff, and students, participated. 

The opening speech of the event was delivered by the President of the Istanbul Bar Association No. 2, Lawyer Yasin Şamlı. 

Describing the processes in Palestine since the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948 as "massacre and genocide," the Damascene emphasized that what is happening in all of Palestine, especially in Gaza, is a humanitarian issue. Stating that lawyers must take responsibility for protecting human rights and ensuring justice, Şamlı said that Israel has been carrying out a policy of occupation, injustice, and bloodshed in the region for years.

Stating that civilian settlements, hospitals, schools, mosques, and historical buildings in Gaza are being targeted, and that women, children, and the elderly are particularly affected, Shamli said that civilian casualties are increasing every day. Stating that they, as the Istanbul Bar Association No. 2, have applied to the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Şamlı expressed that the court's decision on Gaza was inadequate. 

Following Şamlı, Lawyer Uğur Faruk Tüzün, General Coordinator of UHUB, took the floor. 

Tüzün provided information about the structure, areas of activity, and, in particular, the work of UHUB regarding Palestine. Emphasizing that the crimes committed by Israel in Gaza and Palestine from the past to the present cannot be evaluated separately, Tüzün stated that these violations have continued throughout history.

Our Rector, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Hamdi Topal, stated in his speech that wars are a bitter reality of human history. 

Stating that international law has a critical mission, such as preventing the outbreak of wars and ensuring the protection of civilians if they do occur, our Rector said, "International law aims to ensure that conflicts are conducted within a minimum humanitarian framework, even in situations where war cannot be completely eliminated," he said. 

Reminding us that civilians are still suffering great losses in regions such as Syria, Arakan, Palestine, Sudan, and East Turkestan, our Rector emphasized that this is not only a political but also a moral responsibility. He stated that the trial of the perpetrators of crimes committed in Bosnia before international law is an important example. 

Our rector, who drew attention to the responsibility of academia in international law practices, said, "Today, our greatest task is to go beyond analyzing the current situation and develop proposals that will lay the foundations for a more just international order." 

Our Rector noted that conflicts today are evolving into a new dimension, moving away from being state-centric and becoming influenced by non-state armed actors, hybrid warfare methods, cyberattacks, and unmanned systems, and stated that the law faces a greater challenge in the face of this change. 

Following the opening remarks, the conference continued with presentations by Assist.Prof.Dr.  Hamza Yavuz, moderated by Assist.Prof.Dr. Elşan İzzetgil, Assist.Prof.Dr.  Şenel Sarsıkoğlu, and Res.Assist. Dr. Harun Koçak. 

The conference's first speaker, Assist. Prof.Dr. Elşan İzzetgil stated in his presentation titled "Analysis of the Justifications for Russia's Attack on Ukraine within the Context of Russian Foreign Policy Culture" that Russia has historically perceived threats from its southern and western borders and that it has shaped its security policies accordingly. 

Emphasizing that Russia viewed Ukraine's rapprochement with the West in the 2000s as a threat, İzzetgil underscored that this is why Russia developed expansionist strategies. 

Assist. Prof.Dr. Şenel Sarsıkoğlu, in her presentation titled "Evaluation of Acts Committed in Gaza within the Scope of International Criminal Law: War Crime or Genocide?", stated that war law brings human rights law into play even during the continuation of war. Noting that Israel has deliberately targeted neutral areas such as schools, hospitals, places of worship, and refugee camps since 2023, Assist. Prof.Dr. Sarsıkoğlu stated that these actions are considered war crimes under international law.

The final speaker, Res. Assist. Dr. Harun Koçak delivered a presentation titled "The Transformation of the Use of Force in International Law: The End of the UN Regime." Dr. Koçak stated that the United Nations system was initially founded on the principles of non-conflict and peace, but the regime of using force in world politics changed after September 11.  

Stating that the concept of "illegal but legitimate" emerged with the Kosovo intervention, Koçak noted that this situation laid the groundwork for military interventions in different countries in the subsequent process.  

The conference concluded with the presentation of certificates of appreciation to the speakers and a photo session to commemorate the day.