genocide case - The African Mirror

May

2024

Turkey to join South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at World Court, minister says

TURKISH Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said that Turkey would join in South Africa's genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). "Upon completion of the legal text of our work, we will submit the declaration of official intervention before the ICJ with the objective of implementing this political decision," Fidan said in a joint press conference with Indonesia's Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi in Ankara. "Turkey will continue to support the Palestinian people in all circumstances," he said. The ICJ ordered Israel in January to refrain from any acts that could fall under the Genocide Convention and to ensure its…

Apr

2024

By The African Mirror

Colombia seeks to join Gaza genocide case against Israel at World Court

WORLD

COLOMBIA has asked the International Court of Justice to allow the country to intervene in South Africa's case accusing Israel of genocide in the Gaza Strip, the court. In its application, Colombia called on the court to ensure "the safety and, indeed, the very existence of the Palestinian people". The ICJ, the highest U.N. court, can allow states to intervene and give their views. Several states have said they would also seek to intervene in the case but so far only Colombia and Nicaragua have filed a public request. Last week ICJ judges ordered Israel to take all necessary and effective action to ensure…

Jan

2024

By The African Mirror

Uganda says judge’s dissent from World Court ruling on Israel does not reflect its position

NEWS

UGANDA has distanced itself from an opinion written by a Ugandan judge on the International Court of Justice (ICJ) dissenting from the panel's ruling in South Africa's genocide case against Israel and said the remarks do not reflect Uganda's position. Julia Sebutinde was the only judge on the 17-member ICJ panel to vote against all six measures adopted by the court in a ruling ordering Israel to take action to prevent acts of genocide as it fights Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip. "The position taken by Judge Sebutinde is her own individual and independent opinion and does not in any way reflect the…

Jan

2024

By The African Mirror

South Africa’s genocide case against Israel is the country’s proudest foreign policy moment in three decades

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

ON 11 January 2024, South Africa hauled Israel before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the charge of violating the 1948 Genocide Convention. This was for Israel’s indiscriminate bombing and siege of Gaza following the deadly 7 October attack on Israel by Hamas which claimed 1,200 Israeli lives. PETER VALE, Senior Research Fellow, Centre for the Advancement of Scholarship, University of Pretoria., University of Pretoria VINEET THAKUR, Assistant Professor, International Relations, Leiden University More than 25,000 Palestinians, at least half of them children, have reportedly been killed in Israeli retaliatory attacks. The siege has led to a humanitarian crisis,…

Jan

2024

By The African Mirror

South Africa has made its genocide case against Israel in court. Here’s what both sides said and what happens next

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP, EDITORS CHOICE

FOLLOWING the October 7 attack by Hamas, Israeli forces have carried out sustained attacks on the Palestinian-controlled territory, dividing the international community. Last week, the South African government presented a case to the International Court of Justice. They argued the Israeli government’s attack on Gaza, and especially the actions of its forces within Gaza since early October, could amount to genocide. PAUL TAUCHER, Lecturer in History, Murdoch University DEAN ASZKIELOWICZ, Senior Lecturer in History and Politics, Murdoch University Few cases that have gone before the court are as explosive and potentially significant as this one. Here’s how the hearings unfolded…

Jan

2024

By The African Mirror

South Africa’s legal team in the genocide case against Israel has won praise. Who are they?

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

SOUTH African justice minister Ronald Lamola led a top legal team to argue the country’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on 11 January. NARNIA BOHLER-MULLER, Divisional Executive, Developmental, Capable and Ethical State research division, Human Sciences Research Council South Africa argues that Israel’s indiscriminate retaliatory bombing and siege of Gaza contravenes the Genocide Convention. More than 23,000 Palestinians, including at least 10,000 children, have been killed. Narnia Bohler-Muller, an international law and human rights law expert, says the South African legal team argued soundly that Israel’s actions in Gaza are genocidal, and tells us…

Jan

2024

By HENRIETTE CHACAR and MOHAMMAD TOROKMAN

For Palestinians, ICJ genocide case against Israel is ‘test for humanity’

NEWS

PALESTINIANS in the occupied West Bank welcomed the case brought by South Africa in the International Court of Justice accusing Israel of genocide, saying the proceedings were an opportunity to hold Israel to account for its military assault in Gaza. Israel has reacted with outrage at the charges brought against it, describing the accusation as "profoundly distorted" and saying South Africa's bid to make it halt its offensive against the Hamas movement in Gaza would leave it defenceless. But for many Palestinians, the charges represent a chance to bring world attention to what they see as Israel's historic suppression of…

Jan

2024

By ANTHONY DEUTSCH and STEPHANIE VAN DEN BERG

Israel, South Africa trade barbs on eve of genocide case

NEWS

SOUTH Africa and Israel exchanged allegations on the eve of hearings at the top U.N. court which will hear South African claims that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in its Gaza offensive. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, also known as the World Court, will hold sessions on Thursday and Friday in a case brought in late December accusing Israel of failing to uphold its obligations under the 1948 Genocide Convention. Both countries are parties to the convention, which obliges them to not commit genocide and also to prevent and punish it. The treaty defines genocide as "acts committed with…

Jan

2024

By The African Mirror

South Africa’s genocide case against Israel: expert sets out what to expect from the International Court of Justice

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP

THE International Court of Justice (ICJ) will be holding public hearings on 11-12 January at the Peace Palace in The Hague, the seat of the court, in a case brought by South Africa against Israel. South Africa has accused Israel of violating the 1948 Genocide Convention in its military bombardment and siege of Gaza, which started after the deadly 7 October Hamas attack on Israel. Both Israel and South Africa have ratified the genocide convention. We asked human rights and international law expert Magnus Killander for his insights. MAGNUS KILLANDER, Professor, Centre for Human Rights in the Faculty of Law,…

Dec

2023

By WENDELL ROELF and TOBY STERLING

South Africa files genocide case against Israel at World Court

NEWS

SOUTH Africa asked the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for an urgent order declaring that Israel was in breach of its obligations under the 1948 Genocide Convention in its crackdown against the Palestinian group Hamas in Gaza. The ICJ, sometimes known as the World Court, is the United Nations' venue for resolving disputes between states. Israel's foreign ministry said in a reaction the suit was "baseless." South Africa's filing alleged Israel was violating its obligations under the treaty, drafted in the wake of the Holocaust, which makes it a crime to attempt to destroy a people in whole or in part. It…