South Africa has launched a case against Israel at the UN’s international court of justice (ICJ) accusing the state of committing genocide in its military campaign in Gaza.

The ICJ, also called the World Court, is a UN civil court that adjudicates disputes between countries. It is distinct from the International Criminal Court (ICC), which prosecutes individuals for war crimes.

As members of the UN, both South Africa and Israel are bound by the court.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JK_drm0Incs?si=DG_m0ZmkStSl39dD

Israel responded to the allegations “with disgust”, calling South Africa’s case a “blood libel” and urging the ICJ to reject it.

Any case at the ICJ is likely to take years to resolve, but South Africa has called for the court to convene in the next few days to issue “provisional measures” calling for a ceasefire. In March 2022, the ICJ ordered Russia to halt its offensive in Ukraine, an order which was supposed to be legally binding, but Moscow ignored it anyway. Any such ruling however is likely to significantly sway international public opinion.

“The acts and omissions by Israel complained of by South Africa are genocidal in character because they are intended to bring about the destruction of a substantial part of the Palestinian national, racial and ethnical group,” the South African application to open proceedings said.

“Provisional measures are necessary in this case to protect against further, severe and irreparable harm to the rights of the Palestinian people under the Genocide Convention, which continue to be violated with impunity.”

“Genocidal intent is assumed to be the most difficult element to prove, but Israelis in charge of prosecuting this conflict have made a plethora of statements that easily prove the requisite intent to ‘destroy in whole or in part’ the Palestinian population in Gaza,” said Susan Akram, director of the international human rights clinic at Boston University.

As examples, Akram pointed to Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant’s reference to Palestinians in Gaza as “human animals” and Israeli army Major General Ghassan Alian’s subsequent statement that: “Human animals must be treated as such. There will be no electricity and no water [in Gaza], there will only be destruction. You wanted hell, you will get hell.”

Iva Vukušić, assistant professor in international history at Utrecht University, said: “With over 21,000 dead in Gaza, [the South Africans] believe it is time to let a court look at what is going on. The Genocide Convention allows them to do that, because states, globally, don’t have a lot of places to ‘go to’ in these kinds of situations, especially with the Security Council being as polarised and dysfunctional.”


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09nCK4wNZIM?si=1YLk-JblSip3th38

The international criminal court (ICC) is already investigating possible war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by both Hamas and Israel. While the ICC can prosecute individuals, the ICJ is an arena for adjudicating conflicts between states.

“The ICJ’s provisional measures are legally binding but enforceability is always the problem,” Victor Kattan, assistant professor in public international law at the University of Nottingham, said. “Ultimately, enforcement always returns to the political organs of the UN and they are paralysed. But it’s still symbolic and it’s embarrassing, I’d imagine, for Israel to be facing a genocide claim, given its history.”

Lior Haiat, the spokesperson for Israel’s foreign ministry, issued a swift rejection of South Africa’s case on social media.

“Israel rejects with disgust the blood libel spread by South Africa in its application to the international court of justice,” Haiat said on X, formerly Twitter. “South Africa’s claim lacks both a factual and a legal basis, and constitutes a despicable and contemptuous exploitation of the court.”

“South Africa is cooperating with a terrorist organisation that is calling for the destruction of the State of Israel,” he added, referring to Hamas, whose massacre of hundreds of Israeli civilians on 7 October triggered the war in Gaza.

“I think it is fair to say that a lot of states now use appeals to the ICJ as part of their battles to control global narratives around wars and crises,” said Richard Gowan, UN director at the International Crisis Group. “Turning to the court and using the word ‘genocide’ is a powerful way to shape international debates about a conflict. But it is notable that the court has sadly failed to halt violence in Myanmar or Ukraine. There is a risk that the ICJ becomes just another platform for public diplomatic disputes and name-calling similar to the UN general assembly.”

Why cry more than the bereaved?

Chepos1:
Why cry more than the bereaved?

The same can be asked of the US which is Israel's biggest cheerleader.

Like our Hoebidient like our Zulu brothers. Carry another person load for head while his own load dey ground. I think they call it Afghanistanism

bhella10:
Like our Hoebidient like our Zulu brothers. Carry another person load for head while his own load dey ground. I think they call it Afghanistanism

Look at the extremely low levels of reasoning in Japageria 🇳🇬. You think SA spends all its GDP on Palestinian issues or even 0,000001% for you to say it can't carry its own load?

Remind us, what's Nigeria's foreign policy outside of Ecowas & white worshipping?🤣🤣🤣 Even Niger and Burkinabe coup leaders bully you - what more of Israel (you can never dare face)? You could learn a thing or 2 from your "Zulu brothers" about growing some ⚽⚽⚽

Isreal already mounting flags and planning real estate developments in Gaza, despite the war and devastation

SA carry problem wen no be their own for head.

Same court they don't believe in

Despite having Muslims leader and mostly Muslim population. Nigeria didn't do jack for Palestinians.
Nigeria should borrow a leaf from SA and stand up to this Baby killer

SA HAS NO BIZ IN HAMAS/ISRAEL FIGHT EXCEPT TO PLEAD WITH HAMAS TO SURRENDER PUBLICLY AND RELEASE ALL THE HOSTAGES IN THEIR POSSESSION. HAMAS IS EVIL AND WICKED.

Codepain:
Despite having Muslims leader and mostly Muslim population. Nigeria didn't do jack for Palestinians.
Nigeria should borrow a leaf from SA and stand up to this Baby killer

Saudi Arabia the leader of OIC where Islam Headquarters is located, what have they done? Well Nigeria, should face Israel. That will be the happiest news to we Igbos

Same reason why Europe n USA are crying more than the bereaved in Ukraine

Chepos1:
Why cry more than the bereaved?

Codepain:
Despite having Muslims leader and mostly Muslim population. Nigeria didn't do jack for Palestinians.
Nigeria should borrow a leaf from SA and stand up to this Baby killer

We have our own problems of genocide going on in Plateau state. Why should we cry more than the bereaved for another country?
SA should deal with Xenophobia going on in their country and leave Israel alone. Pot calling kettle black

South African, having experienced apartheid for decades knows the pains and horrors foreign occupation brings. So, on that premise, SA suing of Israel is justified. However, I find it confusing that SA hasn’t condemned Putin for his atrocities in Ukraine. If they want to walk, they should walk the whole ten yards; don’t go half way.

These our SA guys, how do they process information sef?

gasparpisciotta:
Isreal already mounting flags and planning real estate developments in Gaza, despite the war and devastation

The goal is to make the place a desolate place

Beremx:
We have our own problems of genocide going on in Plateau state. Why should we cry more than the bereaved for another country?
SA should deal with Xenophobia going on in their country and leave Israel alone. Pot calling kettle black

t

Chepos1:
Why cry more than the bereaved?

Because SA suffered the same fate and only got saved by others who carried it on their head!

MisterGrace:
These our SA guys, how do they process information sef?

You are the one that we should be asking

Codepain:
Despite having Muslims leader and mostly Muslim population. Nigeria didn't do jack for Palestinians.
Nigeria should borrow a leaf from SA and stand up to this Baby killer

You are going too far. What of Saudi Arabia and the entire Middle East Why should africa be the ones taking action when will have no gain, and everything to lose.

That said, I believe Israel is the biggest terrorist in the world.

allthingsgood:


Because SA suffered the same fate and only got saved by others who carried it on their head!

south Africa is a home to xenophobia.

You kill your fellow African brothers and run to ICJ to file for genocide against Palestine.

Stupid people!

I still don't get the outrage against Israel. Neither do I understand the laws of modern warfare.

Someone attacked their country, Israel responded with 100X the force. That's how it should be in order to serve as a deterrent to other enemies.

Plus, I'm 10000% sure that Hamas would have done worse than Israel is doing if they had the power.

The idea that civilians are "innocents" that shouldn't be harmed is NONSENSE. Hamas replenish their numbers from amongst these civilians.

Hence, they are military resources that need to be treated as such by Israel.

Also, South Africa needs to understand that Israel still has the support of most Western Nations who don't like Africans one bit. SA must proceed with caution.

Isreal should file a petition against SA for xenophobic attacks against Africanas. Mumu south Africa

Trying hard to get the attention of isreal and isreal no send their Papa

Fuckyoumod:
south Africa is a home to xenophobia.

You kill your fellow African brothers and run to ICJ to file for genocide against Palestine.

Stupid people!

I swear bro. South Africans are really stupid

But they supporting Russian doing d same to Ukraine.
Nonsense xenophobic

Fuckyoumod:
south Africa is a home to xenophobia.

You kill your fellow African brothers and run to ICJ to file for genocide against Palestine.

Stupid people!

Yes but South Africa does not endorse xenophobia. South Africa has a xenophobia problem. Israel actively endorses genocide.

Codepain:
Despite having Muslims leader and mostly Muslim population. Nigeria didn't do jack for Palestinians.
Nigeria should borrow a leaf from SA and stand up to this Baby killer

Nigeria rather support Israel

allthingsgood:


Because SA suffered the same fate and only got saved by others who carried it on their head!

Exactly. I don't understand how people here reason - very myopic, village champions. Solidarity with other nations is always needed in international diplomacy.

StrongAlphMale:
Isreal should file a petition against SA for xenophobic attacks against Africanas. Mumu south Africa

Trying hard to get the attention of isreal and isreal no send their Papa

Why would SA seek Israeli attention - educate us o. As far as i know Israel knows very well SA doesn't like it because it supported SA apartheid, and now practicing it with the Palestinians.

MzansiCoolio:


Why would SA seek Israeli attention - educate us o. As far as i know Israel knows very well SA doesn't like it because it supported SA apartheid, and now practicing it with the Palestinians.

I don't engage black SA in a conversation, tell a white sane SA to quote me

StrongAlphMale:


I don't engage black SA in a conversation, tell a white sane SA to quote me

Japagerian hunger pains making you hallucinate. I'll double the one bag of rice palliative Tinubu promised you.