The United Nations’ highest court is finishing early proceedings on South Africa’s allegations against Israel. South Africa is accusing Israel of genocide of the Palestinian people.
On Oct. 7, Israeli forces launched a massive air and ground assault in Gaza after Hamas militants stormed Israeli communities, killing around 1,200 citizens. Over the past three months, nearly 23,000 Palestinians have been killed, mainly women and children.
According to The Health Ministry, 2.3 million Palestinians have been displaced from their homes and are living in makeshift shelters. Even they are not safe, as Israeli forces continually besiege U.N. hospitals and rescue shelters. Disease runs rampant, and without the necessary medicine, water and food coming into Gaza, as Israel cuts off all major supply lines into Gaza, Palestinians are dying in the rescue centers.
South Africa’s 84-page submission to the International Court of Justice, or ICJ, says as much. With Nelson Mandela’s long-standing support of the Palestinian people, South Africa’s government has garnered much support not only from their own citizens but also from figures around the world.
Professor David Monyae, the director of the Center for Africa-China Studies at the University of Johannesburg, said that this will show that a small country, like South Africa, can be the one to stand up.
“Just a moral voice to say to the world, ‘Here’s what we should be doing,’” Monyae said. “Going forward, it’s [South Africa’s standing up] going to weaken the hand of the Western world to advance human rights.”
Israel, on the other hand, has categorically denied accusations of genocide and has sent a full legal team to defend this in the ICJ. Israel is known for its lack of participation in the U.N., claiming bias and hypocrisy. This will be the first time Israel defends itself in this setting and in person.
“There’s nothing more atrocious and preposterous than this claim,” said Israeli President Isaac Herzog. “Actually, our enemies, the Hamas, in their charter, call for the destruction and annihilation of the state of Israel, the only nation state of the Jewish people.”
Israel was founded in the wake of the Holocaust and after the 1948 Genocide Convention, which Israel is a signatory of since 1950. South Africa claims in their submission that Israel has violated this, while Israel claims South Africa has perverted and changed that definition of genocide.
This case could cause issues in the United States as well, with the U.S. being a close ally of Israel and sending billions in aid and military support. The United States does not recognize the ICC jurisdiction as they did not formally join them when it was created because they feared it would have to much power and go unchecked.
GC students seem to hold opinions on the matter somewhere in the middle.
“Obviously I dont support any kind of war or violence whether it be here or overseas,” said an anonymous senior education major. “I don’t know if I necessarily agree with sending that much aid like that. “I mean 14 billion dollars is a lot of money to send to a country.”
President Biden has requested sending around 14 billion dollars in aid to Israel. The aid is for air and missile defense systems, help with security efforts, and help with humanitarian aid to civilians.
“It is important that the government and civilians try and pursue a way to peacefully address the long standing conflicts in the region, said Riley Roberts, a junior history major. “It isnot about defending one side or the other but creating a path towards peace and stability.”
This case could take years to fully come to a close. The ICJ has never ruled that a country has committed genocide.
“They should be able to coexist happily,” said Elyse Matheny, a sophomore accounting major. “The whole point of Israel, in my opinion, is for it to be a place for all religions, Judaism, Christinaity and Islam, since they started there.”
The topic of Israel is set to be heard again by the ICJ in early February, with Israeli and South African lawyers present at the hearings.
