France has publicly stated its opposition to a case brought against Israel at the United Nations’ top court, which accuses Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. French Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne, speaking in parliament, emphasized that labeling the Jewish state as committing genocide is a misuse of the term for political purposes.
This stance comes in response to South Africa’s recent emergency case at the International Court of Justice. South Africa argues that Israel’s actions in Gaza violate the UN Genocide Convention, established in 1948 following the Holocaust. The case demands an immediate halt to Israel’s military operations in the Palestinian territory.
Both Israel and its ally, the United States, have dismissed the allegations made at the ICJ as baseless. Matthew Miller, a US State Department spokesman, labeled the South African case as “unfounded,” accusing those attacking Israel of calling for its annihilation.
The German government has also rejected South Africa’s accusations against Israel, denouncing it as a political misuse of the UN Genocide Convention without factual grounds. Namibia, a former German colony, has criticized Germany’s position, highlighting Germany’s historical responsibility for the early 20th-century genocide of the Herero and Nama people.
This case has sparked a complex international debate, involving historical, political, and legal dimensions, with various nations expressing differing viewpoints on the issue.
