MQ Gespräche: Philipp Blom in conversation with Philippe Sands

Wed 22.10.2025, 18h | MQ Libelle

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Philosopher and bestselling author Philipp Blom discusses pressing contemporary issues with international guests. Together with Philippe Sands, Director of the Centre for International Courts and Tribunals at University College London, he discusses the topic "Gaza and international law in a new world order".

Philippe Sands is not only Director of the Centre on International Courts and Tribunals at University College London, but also the author of numerous books on international law and has represented clients in several human rights cases before the International Court of Justice.

In a changed world order, in which heads of state such as Vladimir Putin and Benjamin Netanyahu, who are wanted on international arrest warrants, can apparently make official trips without a care in the world, the concept of international law and crimes against humanity has been greatly weakened. How is this possible in light of the starvation and bombing of civilians in Gaza? What means and instruments are available to bring those responsible on both sides of this conflict to justice and strengthen international human rights?

Philippe Sands, born in 1960, is a lawyer and professor of international law and director of the Centre for International Courts and Tribunals at University College London. He is passionately committed to humanitarian causes and international law. Among other things, he formulated the charges against the Chilean dictator Pinochet. In 2020, he published “The Ratline: A Nazi on the Run,” and in 2017, “Return to Lviv,” which won the prestigious Baillie Gifford Prize and the 2016 Wingate Literary Prize and was named Book of the Year at the 2017 British Book Awards.

Philipp Blom (born 1970 in Hamburg, Germany) is a historian and author of several novels, journalistic, political, and philosophical works. He also works as a radio presenter, documentary filmmaker, and public lecturer.
 

MQ Gespräche

Together with guests who have made a name for themselves internationally as outstanding analysts, Philipp Blom discusses contemporary social, political, and scientific issues in order to shed light on their structures and driving forces from different perspectives.
A collaboration between MQ, IWM, BKF, and RD Foundation