Gilles Devers, a veteran French international lawyer and tireless advocate for Palestinian justice, passed away on November 26, 2024. Devers was known for his resolute dedication to representing the Palestinian cause before international courts, including the International Court of Justice (ICJ) and the International Criminal Court (ICC). His legal battles focused on holding accountable those accused of war crimes, including Israeli leaders Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant, for whom his International Lawyers’ Committee helped secure arrest warrants.

Devers founded the International Lawyers’ Committee, uniting 800 global legal experts to pursue justice for war crimes victims. He was a staunch critic of international inaction on the Palestinian issue, often highlighting the criteria for genocide present in Palestine’s situation. Devers led efforts to file complaints at the ICC and emphasized the importance of international law, warning of the ICC’s credibility being at stake if justice for Palestinians was not pursued.

Throughout his career, Devers called on governments to take definitive stances in favor of human rights over oppression. His passing leaves behind a legacy of unwavering commitment to justice and advocacy for the rights of the oppressed, particularly the Palestinian people. His work continues to inspire global legal efforts against impunity and injustice.