South Africa Accuses Israel of Violation of Genocide Convention

2024-01-11 10:08:28

UPDATE ON THE SITUATION – “The Hamas attack of October 7 cannot justify Israel’s violation of the Genocide Convention,” South Africa declared Thursday before the highest UN court.

South Africa accuses Israel of “violation» of the Genocide Convention before the highest court of the UN. For his part, Antony Blinken finalizes his tour of the Middle East with a visit to Cairo, while on the front, the fighting is intensifying in Khan Younes in the center of the Gaza Strip, since the north has largely been secure. In the Red Sea, an end to attacks is requested by the UN Security Council… Le Figaro takes stock of the fighting between Israel and the Hamas terrorist movement, behind a bloody attack which killed more than a thousand civilians.

Pretoria accuses Israel of “violation» of the Genocide Convention

The Hamas attack of October 7 cannot justify the “violation» by Israel of the Genocide Convention, South Africa declared Thursday before the highest court of the UN. According to South Africa, Israel is breaking its commitments made under the United Nations Convention on Genocide, signed in 1948 following the Holocaust. As a co-signatory to the treaty, Pretoria can sue Israel before the ICJ, which rules on disputes between states.

«No armed attack on the territory of a State, however serious it may be (…) can justify a violation of the convention“, affirmed the South African Minister of Justice, Ronald Lamola, before the International Court of Justice. “Israel’s response to the October 7 attack crossed this line and resulted in violations of the convention“, he added, during a hearing before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which sits in The Hague. Pretoria urgently seized the ICJ to order Israel to “immediately suspend military operations» in the Gaza Strip.

In its 84-page request, South Africa recognizes the “particular weight of responsibility» of the accusation of genocide once morest Israel and condemns “unequivocal» the Hamas attack of October 7. But Israeli actions in Gaza are intended “to bring regarding the destruction of a substantial part of the Palestinian national, racial and ethnic group“, she accuses. South Africa speaks before the magistrates on Thursday, Israel on Friday. As this is an emergency procedure, the ICJ might rule in a few weeks.

Blinken visits Cairo, final stop of his Middle East marathon

American Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived Thursday morning in Cairo for a final stage of his diplomatic marathon in the Middle East devoted to the conflict in the Gaza Strip, according to journalists accompanying him.

Arriving from Israel, Antony Blinken was to meet Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sissi, before flying to the United States following visiting nine countries, including Turkey and Saudi Arabia, as well as in the occupied West Bank, calling to avoid a flare-up of the conflict in Gaza.

IDF neutralizes two journalists accused of being “terrorist agents»

Islamic State-inspired attacks foiled by Israeli police

The Israeli police announced Thursday that they had foiled plans for attacks once morest the police, instigated by two Palestinian sympathizers of the Islamic State (IS) group, who were arrested in December. Aged 21 and 23 and living in East Jerusalem, an area occupied and annexed by Israel, “terrorists planned to prepare explosive devices and target security forces “, according to a joint statement from the police and Shin Beth, the internal security service.

The two men were arrestedregarding a month ago » for one and December 25 for the other, according to the police and Shin Beth. “The two terrorists supported the ideology of the Islamic State and consumed a lot of content produced by the group abroad on the internet and via Telegram. », According to the police and Shin Beth. They also consulted sites giving information on bomb making.

Israeli army increases strikes in central Gaza

Early Thursday, Israeli aircraft increased strikes in the area of ​​Khan Younes, the main town in southern Gaza and the epicenter of fighting in recent weeks, according to witnesses. Hamas reported 62 deaths overnight across Gaza. Early Wednesday evening, the Palestinian Red Crescent announced the death of six people, including four of its rescuers, in a strike on an ambulance in the center of the Gaza Strip, which it attributed to the Israeli army. .

Israeli soldiers in Gaza. MENAHEM KAHANA / AFP

«The battles take place underground, on land, in a very, very complex territory, facing an enemy who has prepared his defense over a very long period and in a very organized manner.“, declared Israeli army chief of staff Herzi Halevi who visited the central Gaza Strip on Wednesday.

The UN Security Council demands the cessation ofimmediate » Houthi attacks

The UN Security Council on Wednesday demanded an end to “immediate» Houthi attacks on ships in the Red Sea, calling on all states to respect the arms embargo targeting Yemeni rebels.

The resolution prepared by the United States and Japan, adopted by 11 votes in favor and 4 abstentions, “demands that the Houthis immediately end» to attacks «that hinder international trade and undermine the rights and freedoms of navigation, as well as the peace and security of the region».

Read alsoIn the Red Sea, the United States is preparing for a military escalation once morest the Houthis

Israel accused of “genocide » before the International Court of Justice

Israel faces charges Thursday before the International Court of Justicegenocidal acts» in Gaza, formulated by South Africa and described by the Israeli president as “atrocious» et «absurd“. Pretoria urgently appealed to the highest court of the United Nations, which sits in The Hague, to order Israel to “immediately suspend military operations» in the Gaza Strip. According to South Africa, Israel is breaking its commitments made under the United Nations Convention on Genocide, signed in 1948 following the Holocaust.

As a co-signatory to the treaty, Pretoria can sue Israel before the ICJ, which rules on disputes between states. In its 84-page request, South Africa recognizes the “particular weight of responsibility» of the accusation of genocide once morest Israel and condemns “unequivocal» the Hamas attack of October 7. But Israeli actions in Gaza are intended “to bring regarding the destruction of a substantial part of the Palestinian national, racial and ethnic group“, she accuses.

«There is nothing more atrocious and absurd than this statement.», Reacted Israeli President Isaac Herzog. “We will be before the International Court of Justice and we will proudly present our case of self-defense (…) under international humanitarian law“, he added. The Israeli armyis doing everything possible, under extremely complicated circumstances on the ground, to ensure that there will be no unintended consequences or civilian casualties», added Isaac Herzog.

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