South Africa has formally accused Israel of failing to comply with three legally binding orders from the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The government submitted an evidence dossier to the court on Tuesday.
Pretoria said Israel had not complied with the orders issued during the ongoing case. It also said it would continue using “all avenues available” to seek full compliance with the Genocide Convention.
South Africa warned that Palestinian rights in Gaza could suffer irreversible damage before the court reaches a final decision. It said this could also affect confidence in the ICJ itself.
Dossier details growing human toll
The South African dossier says at least 73,407 Palestinians had been killed and 174,335 injured by August. According to the submission, those figures represent more than 10% of Gaza’s population.
The report also highlights the situation since the announcement of what South Africa called a “so-called ‘ceasefire’”. It says Israeli military actions have killed an average of one Palestinian child each day during this period.
South Africa also cited a sharp rise in miscarriages among Palestinian women. The dossier says miscarriage rates increased more than three-fold in 2026.
Pretoria raises detention and media concerns
The South African government also accused Israel of arbitrarily detaining and deporting Palestinians. It said some detainees later reported torture, sexual and gender-based violence, and other forms of mistreatment.
Pretoria further alleged that Israeli forces had targeted local journalists. The government said these actions had made it harder to document events in Gaza.
The dossier also claims that Israel has prevented UN-mandated investigative bodies from entering the territory. South Africa argued that such restrictions could hinder efforts to establish a record of events.
ICJ case began in December 2023
South Africa launched its case against Israel at the ICJ on December 29, 2023. Pretoria accused Israel of violating the 1948 Genocide Convention and asked the court to impose urgent provisional measures.
The ICJ issued orders on January 26, March 28 and May 24, 2024. The measures required Israel to take steps to prevent acts covered by the Genocide Convention and protect Palestinians in Gaza.
The court also ordered Israel to halt its military offensive in Rafah and provide reports on its compliance. The ICJ serves as the principal judicial organ of the United Nations.
