“THE U.S. MUST RESPECT FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS”
The right to property is a fundamental human right, enshrined in international law and universally protected across legal and religious traditions. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), Article 17, states:
“Everyone has the right to own property alone as well as in association with others. No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of their property.”
Similarly, Article 1 of Protocol No. 1 to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) reaffirms this principle:
“Every natural or legal person is entitled to the peaceful enjoyment of their possessions.”
The confiscation, destruction, or forced transfer of property without consent constitutes a grave violation of these rights and is recognized as an international crime.
Despite these universally accepted legal protections, U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent statement advocating for the forced transfer of the people of Gaza is deeply alarming. Such a proposal, effectively amounting to the mass displacement of a civilian population, violates fundamental human rights and contravenes multiple international agreements. Forcibly evacuating Palestinians from their homes without consent constitutes a clear breach of international law and a violation of their inherent rights.
This mentality—where those in power act without regard for legal principles—undermines the rule of law. True peace and stability cannot be achieved through the displacement and dispossession of a people. The rule of law must be based on justice, not on the arbitrary exercise of power.
We call on all nations and international organizations, including the United Nations, to take a firm stance against such violations and stand in solidarity with those whose rights are being unjustly stripped away.
As the International Jurist Union, we stand with the people of Gaza. We will pursue all available legal avenues to challenge these violations and to uphold international law. Furthermore, we urge all governments to intensify their efforts in defending human dignity, humanitarian principles, and fundamental rights against actions that amount to ethnic cleansing.
Attorney
Necati CEYLAN
General Secretary of International Jurist Union
