South Africa Accuses Israel of Committing Genocide in Gaza as ICJ Case Begins

South Africa has presented its case at the United Nations‘ International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing Israel of committing genocide in the Gaza Strip. Speaking at the court in The Hague, South Africa urged the ICJ to swiftly order Israel to halt its military operation in Gaza, claiming that Israel’s intent to destroy Gaza is evident from the way the military attack is being conducted.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejected the genocide accusations, referring to them as baseless and accusing South Africa of siding with Hamas. Netanyahu stated that Israel is fighting against genocide and that it is combatting murderous terrorists who have committed crimes against humanity.

The 1948 Genocide Convention defines genocide as acts committed with the intent to destroy a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group. South Africa highlights Israel’s sustained bombing campaign in Gaza, which has resulted in the deaths of over 23,000 people, according to health authorities in the region. The South African Justice Minister, Ronald Lamola, condemned the recent attack by Hamas on Israeli civilians but emphasized that it does not justify violations of the Genocide Convention.

Post-apartheid South Africa has long supported the Palestinian cause, with a relationship formed during the African National Congress‘s struggle against white-minority rule, which was supported by the Palestine Liberation Organization led by Yasser Arafat.

The ICJ will hear Israel’s response to the allegations on Friday and is expected to rule on possible emergency measures later this month. The court’s decisions are final and without appeal, but it lacks the means to enforce them.

The politically charged case has drawn global attention, with supporters of both sides organizing marches and rallies in The Hague. Pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian demonstrations were kept separate by a heavy police presence.

During his visit to Tel Aviv, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken dismissed the case as meritless, stating that it is particularly galling given that Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran, among others, continue to call for Israel’s annihilation and the mass murder of Jews.

The ICJ, also known as the World Court, has never ruled a country responsible for genocide. The closest it came was in 2007 when it ruled that Serbia “violated the obligation to prevent genocide” in the Srebrenica massacre of over 8,000 Muslim men and boys by Bosnian Serb forces.

South Africa’s case against Israel cites the lack of essential assistance provided by Israel to Gaza, such as food, water, and medicine. The territory has been under Hamas control since 2007, following Israel’s 38-year occupation.

Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri expressed interest in the ICJ proceedings, urging the court to criminalize the Israeli occupation and put an end to the aggression on Gaza.