Yesterday, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) began two days of legal discussions in a case presented by South Africa, which accuses Israel of genocide in the war in the Gaza Strip once morest Hamas
South Africa asked the judges at the start of the hearing to impose binding preliminary orders on Israel, including the immediate suspension of the Israeli military campaign in Gaza. Israel rejects South Africa’s accusation.
The president of the ICJ, Joan E. Donoghue, said that South Africa argues that Israeli actions following the October 7 Hamas attacks “have a genocidal character”, according to the US agency AP.
South Africa, according to the president of the ICJ, also states that Israel “was unable to prevent genocide and is committing genocide”. Pretoria also alleges that Israel violates “other fundamental obligations” under the United Nations Genocide Convention.
South Africa has made an urgent request to the ICJ to order Israel to “immediately suspend military operations” in the Gaza Strip.
The war between Israel and Hamas was triggered by an unprecedented attack by the Palestinian Islamist movement Hamas on Israeli soil, on October 7, which caused around 1,400 deaths, according to authorities.
In retaliation, Israel promised to annihilate Hamas, in power in Gaza, and launched an offensive in Palestinian territory that caused more than 23,300 deaths, according to data from the Hamas Ministry of Health.
