UN Court to Rule on Israel Gaza Genocide Case This Friday

On Friday, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) is set to issue a preliminary decision on South Africa’s request for temporary measures in a case accusing Israel of genocide in its military actions in Gaza. The case, initiated by South Africa, alleges that Israel’s actions during its conflict with Hamas in Gaza constitute genocide, a claim Israel vehemently denies.

The court in The Hague announced the date of the interim ruling, with South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor expected to attend. Israel’s response to the accusations has been significant, evident in the presence of a high-level legal team at the court, despite Israel’s history of boycotting international tribunals and U.N. probes due to perceived biases.

The provisional measures sought by South Africa could include ordering Israel to halt its military operations in Gaza. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has declared his intention to continue the offensive until Hamas is defeated. This conflict began following a cross-border attack by Hamas on October 7, which resulted in around 1,200 deaths.

The ICJ’s ruling will be preliminary, focusing on urgent interim measures rather than the core allegations of the case. The court must determine its jurisdiction and the urgency of the situation to issue these provisional measures. At the hearings, South African lawyers argued that Israel’s actions and official statements indicate an intent to commit genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, while Israel’s legal team refuted these claims.

The case holds significant implications for both countries, touching on their national identities. Israel, established post-World War II in response to the Holocaust, strongly rejects the genocide accusation. South Africa’s involvement is influenced by its history of apartheid, with its ruling African National Congress often drawing parallels between Israeli policies in Gaza and the West Bank and apartheid practices.