South Africa accused Israel on Thursday (January 11) of genocidal acts against Palestinians at the hearing in the International Court of Justice (ICJ). It charged the Israeli military of carrying out the genocide.
In the case against Israel in the ICJ in Hague, South Africa demanded an emergency suspension of Israel’s military campaign against Palestinian population, especially in Gaza.
Underlining the Israel's genocidal intent against Palestinians, Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, the advocate of the High Court of South Africa said, "Genocidal intent against the Palestinians in Gaza is evident from the way in which Israel’s military attack is being conducted."
Adila Hassim, the advocate of South African High Court stated, “South Africa contends that Israel has transgressed Article 2 of the (Genocide) Convention by committing actions that fall within the definition of genocide. The actions show systematic patterns of conduct from which genocide can be inferred.”
South Africa stressed that Israel’s attacks have left nearly 60,000 Palestinians wounded and maimed, most of whom are women and children. This amid a crippled healthcare system.
Hassim added that a large number of Palestinian civilians, including children are arrested, blindfolded, forced to undress and loaded onto trucks and taken to unknown locations. Until now, nearly 23,000 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s bombing campaign.
“Israel deployed 6,000 bombs per week. At least 200 times, it has deployed 2,000-pound (907kg) bombs in southern Gaza, which it designated safe,” Hassim further said.
Israel went on an offensive after an attack by militants of Gaza's ruling Palestinian Islamist group Hamas which killed 1,200 people and 240 became hostages to Hamas, claimed Israel. “Israel’s response to the October 7 attack has crossed this line and given rise to the breaches of the convention,” said South Africa’s Justice Minister Ronald Lamola.
On Thursday, the ICJ is hearing arguments by South Africa and is scheduled to hear Israel’s response to the allegations by South Africa on Friday, January 12. Later this month, a decision regarding potential emergency measures is anticipated from the ICJ.
Even though the ICJ’s decisions are final and without appeal, the court has no means to enforce its orders.
During the hearing, South Africa highlighted that 1% of the Palestinian population in Gaza has been systemically decimated and one in four has been injured since October 7.
South Africa underlined that it tried to reach out to the Israeli government via the embassy before filing the case. However, the response from Israel failed to address the issues raised by South Africa, neither confirming nor denying the existence of a dispute.
Subsequently, on January 5, when South Africa requested a bilateral meeting, Israel responded that representatives of the two nations “coordinate” after hearings at the ICJ end.
Meanwhile, thousands of pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian supporters gathered outside the ICJ in freezing temperatures since early morning on Thursday and were kept separated by the police force.
