1. Shannon Fyfe Quoted in The Times of Israel

Shannon Fyfe Quoted in The Times of Israel Fyfe was among several scholars discussing the legal definition of genocide and the term's use to describe Israel's actions in Gaza.

By Law Communications
September 12, 2025

Washington and Lee law professor Shannon Fyfe was quoted in a recent "The Times of Israel" article on efforts by advocacy groups to broaden the use of the term "genocide" beyond the definition in settled international law.

The article examines from various perspectives the tension between fixed definitions of international law and interpretive evolution driven by modern conflicts. Fyfe says that while interpretations can and do vary, no court has yet adopted the broader definitions cited by advocacy groups and adds that the court of public opinion and international courts are distinct institutions.

"I have not seen legal institutions doing this reinterpreting," Fyfe told the paper. "But the legal institutions and what they are saying is such a narrow slice of what we see in the news."

Professor Fyfe's research interests are in legal philosophy, ethics, and political philosophy, with a focus on philosophy and international conflict, particularly international criminal law. Her work in this field seeks to provide a philosophical framework for defending and criticizing current practices of holding individuals legally and morally accountable for their participation in mass atrocities. She holds both a Ph.D. in philosophy and a J.D. from Vanderbilt University.