South Africa Files Genocide Case Against Israel

South Africa has filed a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice on Friday, accusing it of crimes of genocide and consequent breach of the 1948 Genocide Convention after nearly three months of intense bombardment that has killed more than 21,000 people.

South Africa sent an application to the court on Friday, describing Israel’s actions as “genocidal in character because they are intended to bring about the destruction of a substantial part of the Palestinian national, racial and ethnical group”.

The ICJ, also known as the World Court, is a United Nations court that resolves disputes between nations. As member nations of the UN, both South Africa and Israel are bound by the court. South Africa accused Israel of violating the 1948 Genocide Convention and asked the court to issue provisional, or short term, measures ordering Israel to stop its military campaign in Gaza.

Israel’s foreign ministry responded to the case, calling it “baseless”

In a response to South Africa’s accusation, Israel’s foreign ministry blamed Hamas for the rising death count of the Palestinian people. They claimed that Hamas’ usage of human shields and theft of humanitarian aid has resulted in the suffering of Palestinians living in the Gaza Strip.

Tags: South Africa Israel Palestine