South Africa on Thursday requested that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) impose interim measures on Israel to halt its attack on the Gaza Strip, while asking Israel for steps to “prevent genocide,” according to Middle East Monitor.
The future of the Palestinians who are still in Gaza depends on the decision this Court will make on this matter.
The delegation emphasised that the massacre of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip constituted “a calculated pattern of conduct by Israel indicating a genocidal intent”. Adila Hassim, one of the delegation’s lawyers, stressed that the genocide case “underscores the very essence of our shared humanity as expressed in the preamble to the Genocide Convention”.
“But this Court has the benefit of the past 13 weeks of evidence that shows incontrovertibly, a pattern of conduct and related intention that justifies a plausible claim of genocidal acts.”
The South African lawyers also demanded that the ICJ impose provisional measures, as it “did not hesitate” in the case of the genocide of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar.
The delegation called on the ICJ to put an end “to the decimation of Gaza and its people” as the international community “continues to fail” to take action.
The international community continues to fail the Palestinian people, despite the overt, dehumanising genocidal rhetoric by Israeli government and military officials, matched by the Israeli army actions on the ground.
The delegation stressed that the immediate suspension of Israeli operations was “the only way to secure humanitarian response and avoid more unnecessary death and destruction”. It also demanded that Israel allow access to humanitarian aid in Gaza, including appropriate shelter, clothing, hygiene, sanitation and medicines.
In addition, South Africa asked Israel to take “effective measures” to ensure the preservation of evidence related to genocide allegations.
Public hearings in the Israeli genocide case commenced on Thursday at the International Court of Justice in The Hague. On the first day of the trial, South Africa presented strong evidence in the case it brought on December 29, accusing Israel of genocide and violating the UN Genocide Convention with its actions in the Gaza Strip since October 7.
The South African delegation is led by Justice Minister Ronald Lamola. It will be joined by senior politicians from progressive political parties and movements from around the world.
Thursday’s hearing will be followed by Israel’s arguments in its defence the next day.
