GOMBAK, 20 January 2026 – The International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM) hosted the International Symposium on Gaza in Crisis: Rethinking International Law and the Path to Justice today at the Senate Hall, Muhammad Abdul Rauf Building, IIUM Gombak. The symposium brought together legal scholars, policymakers, and practitioners to critically examine the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza through the lens of international law and justice.
The symposium commenced with opening address and officiation by Professor Dr. Ida Madieha Abdul Ghani Azmi, Dean of the Ahmad Ibrahim Kulliyyah of Laws (AIKOL), IIUM. In her address, she underscored the responsibility of academic institutions to provide principled and scholarly engagement with global crises, particularly those involving grave humanitarian and legal implications.
The programme continued with Keynote Address I, titled “Gaza and the Path to Justice”, delivered by Dato’ Seri Mohd Hishamudin Md Yunus, Chairman of the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) and Adjunct Professor at the Ahmad Ibrahim Kulliyyah of Laws (AIKOL), IIUM. His address highlighted the challenges of accountability, enforcement, and access to justice within the existing international legal framework in relation to Gaza.
This was followed by Panel Discussion I on “Crisis in Gaza and the Issue of Effectively Enforcing International Law”, moderated by Assoc. Professor Dr. Mohd Yazid Zul Kepli. The panel featured Professor Dr. Abdul Ghafur Hamid (AIKOL, IIUM), Professor Dato’ Dr. Rahmat Mohamad (Faculty of Law, UiTM), and Asst. Professor Dr. Mohammed R. M. Elshobake (AIKOL, IIUM), who collectively examined the limitations of international legal mechanisms and the political realities affecting enforcement.
The symposium resumed with Keynote Address II, “Crisis in Gaza from International Humanitarian Law Perspective”, delivered by Dr. Ziaullah Rahmani, Regional Advisor for Islamic Law and Jurisprudence at the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). His presentation provided an in-depth analysis of the application of international humanitarian law principles in armed conflicts, with specific reference to Gaza.
The programme concluded with Panel Discussion II, titled “Rethinking the Future of International Law as a Mechanism for Justice and Peacebuilding”, moderated by Asst. Professor Dr. Muhamad Hassan Ahmad. Panellists Professor Dr. Mohammad Naqib Eishan Jan (AIKOL, IIUM), Professor Dr. Salawati Mat Basir (Faculty of Law, UKM), and Assoc. Professor Dr. Mohd Hisham Mohd Kamal (AIKOL, IIUM) reflected on reformative approaches and the future role of international law in promoting sustainable peace and justice.
The symposium concluded with closing remarks by Professor Dr. Majdah Binti Zawawi, Deputy Dean of Academic and Internationalisation of the Ahmad Ibrahim Kulliyyah of Laws (AIKOL), IIUM. In her remarks, she emphasised that the call for a Free Palestine is fundamentally a human rights issue, grounded in the universal principles of the right to life, dignity, and freedom from aggression and occupation. She reiterated the importance of sustained scholarly engagement and strong institutional commitment in advancing legal and ethical frameworks that uphold justice, protect civilians, and affirm the fundamental rights of the Palestinian people