Gaza: facing South Africa, Israel counterattacks before the ICJ
On January 26, the International Court of Justice ruled that there was “a risk” of genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza, following a complaint from South Africa accusing the Jewish state of violating the Genocide Convention.
At the beginning of March, Pretoria asked the fifteen judges to order Israel to lift the blockade, to decree an arms embargo and to order an end to the conflict.
Israel's response to South Africa.
Judges of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) deliver their verdict on Israel, in The Hague, Netherlands, January 26, 2024 (illustrative photo).
© PIROSCHKA VAN DE WOUW / Reuters
By: RFI Follow
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With our correspondent in The Hague,
Stéphanie Maupas
The Israeli response is scathing.
The Jewish state accuses
South Africa
of conducting this procedure “
for the gallery
”, of abusing the World Court, and of “
distorting
” reality.
Not surprisingly,
Israel
therefore rejects all of the new measures requested by South Africa.
In 21 pages, the Jewish state claims to be “
doing a lot
” to alleviate the suffering of civilians in
Gaza
, while at least 32,000 people have been killed in the enclave since October 8.
Israel denies wanting to starve civilians in Gaza.
And in several paragraphs, its lawyers mention humanitarian aid delivered by road, air, and now sea. The Israeli response gives the impression that the situation is under control, while the UN Secretary General
speaks
of insecurity unprecedented in its scale, since it affects more than a million Gazans.
In its petition, South Africa asks judges to order all states to implement the Genocide Convention – implicitly, an arms embargo.
But Israel recalls that the other states are not participating in this case and that the judges cannot therefore order them anything.
To rereadGaza: South Africa requests more emergency measures from the ICJ against Israel
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