South Africa is accusing Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. They have asked the International Court of Justice to intervene and stop the Israeli Defense Army from continuing their crimes in Gaza. Israel has consistently denied all of the accusations. Here is everything you need to know about the South Africa v. Israel case:
South Africa’s Case:
South Africa laid out its main arguments in the South Africa v. Israel case on Jan. 11, 2024. South They stated that Israel has breached the Genocide Convention of 1948 by blanket bombing Palestinians in Gaza, displacing them, and restraining their access to food, water, medical care, shelter, and sanitation. Israel has denied all of these allegations and will outline its defense tomorrow.
South African Justice Minister Ronald Lamola said in his opening remarks, “We are extending our hands across the miles to the people of Palestine”. He further explains the intertwined history between the Palestinian territories and South Africa, which was under apartheid until 1994.
The South African legal team demand that the judges of the ICJ intervene to stop the “suffering that has become unbearable to watch”.
“Genocides are never declared in advance, but this court has the benefit of the last 13 weeks of evidence that shows incontrovertibly a pattern of conduct and related intention that justifies a plausible claim of genocidal acts”.
Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, lawyer on South Africa’s legal team, claims that Israel has acted with genocidal intent, which experts stated that its the hardest part to prove in such cases.
Israel’s Defense:
Israel issued its defense to South Africa’s charges on Jan. 12, 2024, at the International Court of Justice. Israel argues that its military is trying to minimize civilian harm. They have claimed that South Africa is weaponizing the term genocide. In fact, they claim they are interfering with their right of self-defense against Hamas.
The Judges:
It is now in the hands of the judges to decide whether Israel is guilty of genocide. They must focus on the terminology as defined by the 1948 Convention, ”destroy a national, ethnic, racial or religious group, in whole or in part”. The 15 judges’, led by its American president, Joan E. Donoghue, and Russian vice-president, Kirill Gevorgian is expected to take months. The other nationalities are Chinese, Indian, French, German, Japanese, Australian, Brazilian, Moroccan, Lebanese, Slovakian, Somalian, Ugandan, and Jamaican.
