College of Law and College of Public Policy Talk Sheds Light on Starvation and International Law

The College of Law and the College of Public Policy co-hosted an insightful panel on ‘Starvation and International Law’, addressing the weaponization of starvation in war, with an emphasis on the ongoing famine in Gaza. 

Dr. Susan L. Karamanian, Dean, College of Law, moderated the discussion among Dr. Sultan Barakat, Professor, College of Public Policy; Safaa Sadi Jaber, S.J.D. Candidate, College of Law; Lila Ihab El Mahdi Hassan, Assistant Professor in Residence, Northwestern University in Qatar; Dr. Eleni Polymenopoulou, Associate Professor, College of Law; and Dr. Ka Lok Yip, Assistant Professor, College of Law. 

The panel discussed the different branches of international law that regulate food supply during war, the structural violence that has led to starvation in Gaza and the methods for gathering evidence. Additionally, panelists explored the mechanisms for enforcing the law to halt starvation, the obstacles encountered in implementing these mechanisms, and possible steps that could be taken to overcome these obstacles. 

Commenting on the event, Dean Karamanian, said: “This was a critical and urgent conversation in the wake of the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza, implicating numerous dimensions of international law, beyond the right to food and life. Further, substantial policy aspects are relevant, so coordinating the conversation with the College of Public Policy reflects the university’s commitment to addressing regional and global challenges through a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approach. And given that documenting the atrocities is essential to prevention and later legal proceedings, it was important that an experienced investigative journalist was at the table.”

Dr. Barakat added: “I really valued the opportunity to examine this immoral practice through the legal lens of international law specialists from the College of Law. The deliberate use of starvation in Gaza is not only a grave violation of international law but also a moral outrage that undermines our shared humanity. Exchanges like this not only help us confront ongoing injustices but also strengthen our efforts to develop HBKU’s emerging initiative on Humanitarian Diplomacy, ensuring that we contribute to building frameworks for accountability, dignity, and justice.”

The gathering highlighted Gaza's continued humanitarian crisis and emphasized the urgent need for robust international action to alleviate suffering and restore people’s dignity.