International Justice: South Africa and Algeria speak before the ICJ about Gaza
Since February 19, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) has been debating the legality of the Israeli occupation. Judges must issue a legal opinion on this issue, as requested by the UN General Assembly in December 2022. Delegations from more than fifty states are marching at the Peace Palace in The Hague to defend their positions. This February 20, it's South Africa's turn.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague in the Netherlands (illustrative image). AP - Peter Dejong
By: RFI Follow
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With our correspondent in The Hague,
Stéphanie Maupas
South Africa
is first on the list of speakers after Palestine. Pretoria has thirty minutes to complete the Palestinian pleading. The Palestinians had three hours on Monday February 19 to defend their positions and ask judges to declare the occupation illegal. South Africa's lawyers should focus on impunity for crimes committed under Israeli occupation.
Occupation
This is the second time that Pretoria finds itself facing the judges of the
World Court
. At the end of December 2023, South Africa took Israel to court, accusing it of “genocide” against the Palestinians in Gaza. Today's hearings do not concern the war in Gaza but the occupation.
Notice in six months
After South Africa, Algeria should support issues related to the right to self-determination. The judges are expected to issue their legal opinion within six months. This opinion is not mandatory, but Palestine's lawyers hope it will serve as a basis for the international community.
Also read: The International Court of Justice examines the Israeli occupation
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