South Africa has launched a case against Israel at the United Nations’ top court, accusing them of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
The motion also asked the court to issue an interim order for Israel to immediately suspend its military operations in Gaza.
In a statement submitted to the International Court of Justice, South Africa claimed that ‘acts and omissions by Israel … are genocidal in character, as they are committed with the requisite specific intent to destroy Palestinians in Gaza as a part of the broader Palestinian national, racial and ethnical group.’
It added: ‘The conduct of Israel – through its State organs, State agents, and other persons and entities acting on its instructions or under its direction, control or influence – in relation to Palestinians in Gaza, is in violation of its obligations under the Genocide Convention.’
South Africa also accused Israel of ‘failing to prevent genocide’ and ‘prosecuting the direct and public incitement to genocide’ in the application.
‘Israel has engaged in, is engaging in and risks further engaging in genocidal acts against the Palestinian people in Gaza,’ they added.
The court application is the latest move by South Africa, a vociferous critic of Israel’s war, to ratchet up pressure after its lawmakers last month voted in favour of closing down the Israeli embassy in Pretoria and suspending all diplomatic relations until a ceasefire was agreed in Israel’s war with Palestinian Islamist group Hamas in Gaza.
Israel responded by swiftly rejecting South Africa’s case as ‘blood libel with no legal merit’, and said their actions in Gaza were sanctioned under international law.
‘South Africa is collaborating with a terrorist group that calls for Israel’s destruction,’ a statement from the Foreign Ministry said. ‘The people of Gaza are not an enemy of Israel, who is making efforts to limit harm to non-combatants.’
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