World of War Crimes: Eyeless in Gaza... and Beyond

“Robertson’s searing prose strips bare the laws of war. He unflinchingly plunders their historical roots in the search for an end to global impunity and suffering, taking no prisoners when allocating blame. Ultimately, Robertson suggests reforms, a blueprint for justice and amendments to the Rome Statute to heal the rot. An essential read for anyone with a stake in humanity and the planet.” - Kirsty Brimelow, president-elect of the Bar Council, England and Wales

Every day, we are exposed to evidence of hundreds of war crimes: residential buildings bombed and burning in Ukraine, merciless shootings in Gaza despite a so-called ceasefire, civilians beaten and starved by armies in Sudan and a mounting number of aid workers and journalists murdered by soldiers. The evidence proves guilt beyond reasonable doubt, but we know there will be few, if any, prosecutions.

In this powerful book, distinguished human rights lawyer Geoffrey Robertson exposes the 'fraud' that is international humanitarian law. Drawing on his experience as a UN war crimes judge, he considers some of the most pressing legal issues of our time, including torture, nuclear weapons, drone warfare and the fallacy of 'anticipatory self-defence'. In the face of such threats, and with an impotent Security Council neutered by the world's most powerful aggressors, modern democracies are increasingly vulnerable to conflict and invasion.

Most importantly in an age of amoral warlords like Vladimir Putin, Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump, the book warns that we are losing sight of Nuremberg's legacy: that there can be no peace without justice. This authoritative and deeply humane work is both a rallying defence of moral law and a resounding condemnation of those who defy it.