THE HAGUE: The International Court of Justice (ICJ) holds public hearings in the case South Africa v. Israel

By Ruzeki, Shadow News

January 11, 2024

On Thursday, a legal hearing into the war in Gaza opens in The Hague as the international court of justice (ICJ) hears arguments alleging that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza, Palestine. 

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) holds public hearings on the request for the indication of provisional measures submitted by South Africa in the case South Africa v. Israel.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ), the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, holds public hearings on the request for the indication of provisional measures submitted by South Africa in the case South Africa v. Israel on 11 and 12 January 2024, at the Peace Palace in The Hague, the seat of the Court. Session held under the presidency of Judge Joan E. Donoghue, President of the Court. 

South Africa, which has brought the case, is asking the UN top court to act urgently “to protect against further, severe and irreparable harm to the rights of the Palestinian people under the genocide convention, which continues to be violated with impunity”. 

South Africa legal team's Adila Hassim @CIJ_ICJ: “Genocides are never declared in advance, but this court has the benefit of the past 13 weeks of evidence that shows incontrovertibly a pattern of conduct & related intention that justifies a plausible claim of genocidal acts.” pic.twitter.com/7wEx3PlyfT

— UN News (@UN_News_Centre) January 11, 2024 

 In its 84-page written application to the ICJ to open proceedings, South Africa said: 

The acts and omissions by Israel complained of by South Africa are genocidal in character because they are intended to bring about the destruction of a substantial part of the Palestinian national, racial and ethnical group.

Genocide cases can take years to resolve, but South Africa is asking the court to speedily implement “provisional measures” and “order Israel to cease killing and causing serious mental and bodily harm to Palestinian people in Gaza”. 

The filing also says Israel should cease deliberately inflicting conditions calculated to bring about the destruction of the Palestinians as a group, be ordered to prevent and punish incitement to genocide, and halt restrictions on aid as well as evacuation directives. 

Belgium’s deputy prime minister, Petra De Sutter, said that she wanted her country “to take action at the International Court of Justice, following the lead of South Africa”. 

Belgium cannot stand by and watch the immense human suffering in Gaza. We must act against the threat of genocide.

I want Belgium to take action at the International Court of Justice, following the lead of South Africa.

I will propose this within the Belgian government. #begov

— Petra De Sutter (@pdsutter) January 9, 2024 

 I hope you appreciated this article. 

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