South Africa, on Friday, launched a case at the United Nations’ International Court in Hague, Switzerland, accusing Israel of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
It is asking the court to order Israel to halt its attacks. This is the first such challenge made at the court over the current war. Israel swiftly rejected the filing “with disgust”.
South Africa alleges that “acts and omissions by Israel … are genocidal in character”. They are committed with the intent “to destroy Palestinians in Gaza”.
This is a part of the broader Palestinian national, racial and ethnic group, Pretorial said.
South Africa has been a fierce critic of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.
Many there, including President Cyril Ramaphosa, have compared Israel’s policies regarding Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank with South Africa’s past apartheid regime of racial segregation. Israel rejects such allegations.
South Africa asked The Hague-based court to issue an interim order for Israel to immediately suspend its military operations in Gaza.
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A hearing into that request is likely in the coming days or weeks. If it goes ahead, the case will take years, but the court could issue an interim order within weeks.
The Israeli government rejected “with disgust” the genocide accusations. It called it a “blood libel”.
An Israeli Foreign Ministry statement said South Africa’s case lacks legal foundation and constitutes a “despicable exploitation” of the court.
Israel also accused South Africa of cooperating with Hamas, the Palestinian fighting group behind the deadly Oct. 7 attack in southern Israel.
The statement also claimed Israel operates according to international law and focuses its military actions solely against Hamas. (AP News)
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