In an ICJ case, South Africa charges Israel with “genocidal acts” in Gaza

On Friday, South Africa filed a case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against Israel for allegedly engaging in “genocidal” activities in Gaza. Israel turned down the application “with disgust.”.

With respect to Israel’s application to the International Court of Justice concerning purported breaches of its duties under the Genocide Convention, an official declaration declared that Israel “has engaged in, is engaging in, and risks further engaging in genocidal acts against the Palestinian people in Gaza.”

The Hague has received an appeal from South Africa claiming that Israel has been acting “with the requisite specific intent… to destroy Palestinians in Gaza as part of the broader Palestinian national, racial, and ethnic group.”

In reaction to the accusation, Lior Haiat, a spokesperson for the Israeli foreign ministry, tweeted on X, formerly Twitter, saying, “Israel rejects with disgust the blood libel spread by South Africa and its application” with reference to the International Court of Justice.

With the eleventh week of the fight approaching—which began with the deadly Hamas strikes on Israel—large swathes of northern Gaza lie in ashes. The central and southern regions of Gaza have been the targets of Israeli bombs and ground operations.

According to an AFP estimate based on Israeli data, Hamas terrorists killed roughly 1,140 Palestinians on October 7, the majority of whom were civilians.

Since then, Israel’s relentless military campaign has killed nearly 21,500 Palestinians, the majority of them women and children, according to the health ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza.

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“Irreparable harm”: South Africa requests that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) “protect against further, severe, and irreparable harm to the rights of the Palestinian people” in its submission.

Long a fervent advocate of the Palestinian cause, the ruling African National Congress (ANC) in South Africa frequently draws parallels between the Palestinian struggle and its own fight against apartheid.

Israel’s response to the Hamas strikes has drawn strong criticism from Pretoria, which has summoned all Israeli diplomats to the country.

In response, Israel sent its envoy, who was stationed in South Africa, back.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is unable to enforce its rulings, even though it has the last say in disputes involving nations.

Throughout the many years that it would take for cases to be resolved completely, emergency measures might also be necessary.

On behalf of five nations, including South Africa, the International Criminal Court was urged to look into the Israel-Hamas conflict in November.

Djibouti, Comoros, Bolivia, South Africa, and Bangladesh have asked the International Criminal Court’s chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, to look into “the situation in the state of Palestine.”