The International Court of Justice (ICJ), often referred to as the United Nations’ top court, is currently hearing a significant case initiated by South Africa against Israel. The case, which began its hearings on Thursday, centers around allegations that Israel’s military actions in its conflict with Hamas in Gaza amount to genocide.
The South African legal team presented its arguments to the ICJ, describing the situation in Gaza as akin to a “concentration camp” where genocide is occurring. This characterization echoes comments made by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in 2023. The legal team urged the court to issue binding preliminary orders to immediately halt Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
Adila Hassim, one of South Africa’s lawyers, addressed the court, asserting that the past 13 weeks of evidence indicate a pattern of conduct by Israel that could plausibly be considered genocidal. John Dugard, another South African lawyer, reinforced this viewpoint, emphasizing the dire situation in the Gaza Strip.
Israel, which vehemently denies these accusations, is set to present its counterarguments on Friday. The Israeli government maintains that its offensive in Gaza is an act of self-defense and not genocidal.
The ICJ case is particularly significant as it revolves around the genocide convention established in 1948, following World War Two and the Holocaust. Both Israel and South Africa are signatories to this convention. The South African team seeks a ruling from the court affirming that Israel’s actions constitute genocide.
The Health Ministry in Hamas-run Gaza has reported over 23,200 Palestinian deaths due to the Israeli offensive, with a substantial portion of the casualties being women and children. Additionally, an attack on October 7 saw Hamas militants kill approximately 1,200 people, mainly civilians, and take around 250 others hostage.
