South Africa Drags Israel To International Court Of Justice Over ‘Genocide’ In Gaza

South Africa has brought a case to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing Israel of engaging in “genocidal acts” against Palestinians in Gaza.

The ICJ, based in the Hague in the Netherlands, is the principal legal body of the United Nations. It settles disputes between states and gives advisory opinions on international legal issues.

South Africa, in its application to the ICJ, expressed grave concern about the plight of civilians in Gaza and requested provisional measures, including a cessation of all Israeli military activities in Gaza.

Following its application to the ICJ, South Africa’s presidency said in a statement that the country was obliged “to prevent genocide from occurring”.

“South Africa is gravely concerned with the plight of civilians caught in the present Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip due to the indiscriminate use of force and forcible removal of inhabitants,” it said.

“Furthermore, there are ongoing reports of international crimes, such as crimes against humanity and war crimes, being committed as well as reports that acts meeting the threshold of genocide or related crimes… have been and may still be committed in the context of the ongoing massacres in Gaza.”

The 84-page document states that the “acts and omissions by Israel” are “genocidal in character because they are intended to bring about the destruction of a substantial part of the Palestinian national, racial and ethnical group”.

In response, Israel vehemently rejects the accusation, denouncing it as “baseless” and describing it as a “blood libel spread by South Africa.”

Israel contended that South Africa’s claim exploited the court and accused the country of cooperating with a terrorist organization, referring to Hamas.

Israel maintained its commitment to international law and claimed that its military efforts target terrorist organizations, with efforts made to limit harm to non-involved people in Gaza.

Lior Haiat, a spokesman for Israel’s foreign affairs ministry, said South Africa’s claim “constitutes despicable and contemptuous exploitation of the Court.”

He said South Africa was “cooperating with a terrorist organisation that is calling for the destruction of the State of Israel” and said Hamas was “responsible for the suffering of the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip by using them as human shields and stealing humanitarian aid from them”.

“Israel is committed to international law and acts in accordance with it, and directs its military efforts only against the Hamas terrorist organization and the other terrorist organizations cooperating with Hamas,” Mr Haiat said.

“Israel has made it clear that the residents of the Gaza Strip are not the enemy, and is making every effort to limit harm to the non-involved and to allow humanitarian aid to enter the Gaza Strip.”

KanyiDaily recalls that Hamas had invited Elon Musk to visit Gaza, urging him to witness the extent of destruction caused by the Israeli bombardment.