For the first time, Israel is taking on South Africa’s complaint regarding the Gaza war. In his statement before the highest UN court, the representative of South Africa accused Israel of “genocidal actions” and compared its treatment of the Palestinians to the apartheid system of racial separation. Israel rejects the accusation.
“No armed attack on a national territory, no matter how serious, (…) can justify a violation of the (UN Genocide) Convention,” South Africa’s Justice Minister Ronald Lamola told the UN court (ICJ/IGH) with Blick also to the major attack on Israel by the Islamist Hamas on October 7th.
Hearing on Thursday and Friday
The hearings are scheduled for Thursday and Friday, followed by the main proceedings. South Africa filed the lawsuit at the end of 2023. Israel will present its position on Friday. The UN court is supposed to decide on conflicts between states. A decision, initially only on the urgent application, is expected in the next few weeks. Proceedings on the main issue, the genocide allegation, can take years.
The Court’s rulings are primarily symbolic and their actual implementation is difficult to enforce. In response to the Hamas massacre on October 7th, Israel launched a campaign in the Gaza Strip with the stated aim of destroying the radical Islamic organization. According to Hamas, more than 23,000 people have been killed so far. In the massacre on October 7th, 1,200 people were killed in Israel, most of them civilians, and around 240 people were taken hostage to the Gaza Strip.
“Allegations of genocide should never be made lightly”
Palestinian supporters gathered on Thursday in front of the Peace Palace in The Hague, the seat of the court. A few dozen supporters of Israel also came to the court for a demonstration.
“The ‘crime of crimes’, the accusation of genocide, should never be made lightly,” tweeted Chancellor Karl Nehammer (ÖVP) on Thursday. “We oppose all attempts to politicize the ICJ. Israel is a democracy that has the right to defend itself once morest Hamas’ barbaric terrorist attack on peaceful communities in accordance with international law.”
