Israel is set to respond today to allegations labeled “genocide” by South Africa, which has filed an emergency case at the International Court of Justice. South Africa argues that Israel is violating the UN Genocide Convention following the Gaza campaign initiated after the October 7 Hamas attacks, resulting in 1,140 deaths.
Israel, contesting the case as groundless, aims to mount a robust defense against the accusations at the Peace Palace in The Hague. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated.
Miller stated, “In fact, it is those who are violently attacking Israel who continue to openly call for the annihilation of Israel and the mass murder of Jews.”
The ICJ is expected to make a ruling on South Africa’s request within a matter of weeks. While its rulings are final and legally binding, the court has limited power to enforce them.
A month after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the ICJ called for a halt to the military operation, but this directive had no effect.
In this emergency proceeding, the court will not address the core question of whether Israel is committing genocide. Instead, it will focus on whether the rights of Gazans to exist are at risk.
South Africa has the ability to bring an ICJ case against Israel, as both countries have signed the Genocide Convention. Justice Minister Ronald Lamola asserted before the court on Thursday that Israel had “crossed the line” and violated the Convention.
Justice Minister Ronald Lamola stated that even the brutality of the Hamas attack could not justify Israel’s actions. Adila Hassim, a top lawyer for South Africa, mentioned, “Genocides are never declared in advance,” but emphasized that the court has evidence over the past 13 weeks showing a pattern of conduct and related intention justifying a plausible claim of genocidal acts.
The ruling African National Congress (ANC) has been a steadfast supporter of the Palestinian cause, often connecting it to its historical struggle against the white-minority government, which had cooperative relations with Israel. Anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela asserted that South Africa’s freedom would be incomplete without the freedom of the Palestinians.
Addressing the ICJ on Thursday, lawyer for South Africa Blinne Ni Ghralaigh said international justice itself was on the line. She stated, “Some might say that the very reputation of international law, its ability and will to bind and protect all peoples equally, hangs in the balance.”
However, Israel described South Africa as the “legal arm” of Hamas and labeled Pretoria’s case as “one of the greatest shows of hypocrisy in history.”
