The United Nations’ top court opened hearings on Thursday into South Africa’s accusations that the Israeli war on Gaza amounts to genocide against Palestinians.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) proceedings in The Hague got underway, as the 15 permanent judges plus two ad hoc judges from South Africa and the Zionist entity entered the courtroom in the Palace of Peace.
The ICJ’s President Judge Joan Donoghue swore in both ad hoc judges, and read out the allegations made by South Africa in its application against ‘Israel’ under the Genocide Convention.
A court registrar then reads out the provisional measures South Africa has requested the court to order against Israel, including ordering it to “take no steps in furtherance of its military operation” and “desist from the commission of any and all acts in under the scope of Article II of the genocide convention.”
Israel Has Crossed the Line
South Africa’s Justice Minister Ronald Lamola told the ICJ that Palestinian people have suffered at the hands of ‘Israel’ since 1948.
“The violence and the destruction in Palestine did not begin on October 7, they have experienced violence for the last 76 years,” Lamola said.
South Africa’s justice minister Ronald Lamola outlined the country’s genocide case against Israel, as a landmark hearing opened at the ICJ. pic.twitter.com/16Awi16ZA0
— Quds News Network (@QudsNen) January 11, 2024
“Gaza is still considered to be under occupation by international law,” he added.
“South Africa unilaterally condemned the targeting of civilians by Hamas and taking of hostages on October 7, 2023,” Lamola stated.
“That said, no attack, however serious, can justify breaches to the convention whether as a matter of law or morality.”
“Israel has crossed this line, and breached the [genocide] convention,” he stressed. “This is why South Africa has filed this case.”
Some of Israeli Acts Fit Genocide Charges
An attorney for South Africa puts forward the accusation that the Zionist entity is committing acts of genocide during its war against the Gaza Strip.
“South Africa contends that Israel has transgressed Article II of the convention, by actions which show a systematic pattern of conduct from which genocide can be inferred,” said Adila Hassim.
South Africa legal team’s Adila Hassim @CIJ_ICJ: “Genocides are never declared in advance, but this court has the benefit of the past 13 weeks of evidence that shows incontrovertibly a pattern of conduct & related intention that justifies a plausible claim of genocidal acts.” pic.twitter.com/7wEx3PlyfT
— UN News (@UN_News_Centre) January 11, 2024
“Palestinians in Gaza are being killed by Israeli weaponry and bombs from air, land and sea. They are also at immediate risk of death from starvation and disease, due to the destruction of Palestinians towns, the limited aid being allowed in, and the impossibility of distributing aid as the bombs fall. This makes life impossible,” Hassim added.
“It is clear that at least some, if not all, of these acts do fall within the convention provisions,” she stated.
Genocidal Rhetoric by Israeli Officials
For his part, lawyer Tembeka Ngcukaitobi SC presented South Africa’s accusations that the destruction of Palestinian life in all its manifestations is a result of genocidal rhetoric by senior Israeli officials. He argued that this rhetoric has been reflected in the actions of Israeli soldiers soldiers on the ground in Gaza.
He cited comments by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu referencing on more than one occasion, when discussing the war in Gaza, the biblical injunction for the Jewish people to “remember what Amalek did to you.”
“This refers to the Biblical command by God to Saul for the retaliatory destruction of an entire group of people,” the lawyer said.
“The genocidal invocation to Amalek was anything by idle. It was repeated by Mr Netanyahu in a letter to the Israeli armed forces on November 3, 2023”, he added, noting that the prime minister’s invocation is being used by Israeli soldiers to justify the killing of civilians in Gaza.
He also cited comments by Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant describing Palestinian people as “human animals” as well as comments by the so-called National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir saying that those who supported and celebrated the October 7 atrocities should also be targeted in the Israeli war on Gaza.
Demonstrations Outside ICJ
As South Africa’s representatives present the case inside the ICJ, a large number of pro-Palestinian demonstrators have gathered outside it.
Determined mood here in a truly international crowd outside the Peace Palace at the Hague, as we witness the opening of South Africa’s case at the #ICJ accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza. It’s not just Israel on trial today; it’s the international community. #StopGazaGenocide pic.twitter.com/9xI0ilI0GU
— Clare Daly (@ClareDalyMEP) January 11, 2024
The ICJ hears South Africa’s arguments on Thursday and the response by the Zionist entity to the accusations on Friday.
It is expected to rule on the emergency measures later this month. The court will not rule at that time on the genocide allegations — those proceedings could take years.
Source: Agencies (edited by Al-Manar English Website)
