ICJ Set to Hear South Africa Genocide Case Against Israel
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is set to address a case initiated by South Africa, alleging that Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. South Africa urges the court to instruct Israel to cease military actions in the region.
The ICJ will provide an opinion on the genocide claim, as this is not a criminal trial, but the proceedings are closely monitored. While South Africa will, today, present its arguments, Israel will present its defense on Friday.
In its submission, South Africa says Israel's actions "are intended to bring about the destruction of a substantial part of the Palestinian national, racial and ethnical group".
It says Israel's actions include "killing Palestinians in Gaza, causing them serious bodily and mental harm, and inflicting on them conditions of life calculated to bring about their physical destruction".
It, therefore, calls for "provisional measures" to be implemented by the court as a matter of urgency, including that Israel cease all military activities in Gaza.
Israeli President, Isaac Herzog, has however, referred to the accusations as "atrocious and preposterous".
"We will be in the International Court of Justice and we will present proudly our case of using self-defence… under humanitarian law," he said.
He added that the Israeli army was "doing its utmost under extremely complicated circumstances on the ground to make sure that there will be no unintended consequences and no civilian casualties".
South Africa has strongly condemned Israel's military actions in Gaza, with the African National Congress (ANC) expressing longstanding support for the Palestinian cause. The nation draws parallels between this situation and its historical fight against apartheid, a system of racial segregation and discrimination by the white-minority government against the black majority until democratic elections in 1994.
In the aftermath of Hamas's 7 October attacks on southern Israel, more than 23,350 people have been killed in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. In those attacks some 1,300 people were killed - mainly civilians - and about 240 others taken hostage
