International Law in Crisis?

Posted: 30th October 2025

Peace with justice, security and equal rights for Israelis and Palestinians

Alongside our main webinars, we produce International Law in Crisis? - a series diving deep into how global legal systems respond (or fail to respond) to major crises, including Palestine.

Hosted by Lara Bird-Leakey, with guests including genocide experts, legal scholars, and diplomats, the series unpacks the legal and moral obligations of states.

Dr Philippa Whitford is a breast cancer surgeon, former MP for Central Ayrshire, trustee of MAP, patron of the BPP and worked in Gaza as a surgeon between 1991-2 and then again from 2016-2019.

In this episode Lara talks to Philippa about her experiences working in Gaza over two crucial periods in Gaza’s recent history. Philippa tells us about the daily struggles of working in Gaza during the first Intifada and in the wake of the Madrid Conference, and then again during Gaza’s occupation by Israel. Lara asks about what it was like to watch the genocide unfold and what parallels Philippa sees between what we are seeing now and her experience living in Gaza.

This is an incredibly moving and insightful episode which paints a vivid picture of the state of Gaza’s health service pre genocide and outlines the challenges that the healthcare system faces now.

If you are interested in seeing Philippa speak live, then make sure you are following her and her ongoing tour of Scotland.

Follow Philippa here.

Lara will be interviewing Philippa live in Arbroath on the 14th of November. You can get tickets here.

Best wishes,
The Britain Palestine Project Team