SHAH ALAM - All eyes are on the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague since yesterday (Thursday) as it hears South Africa’s case against Israel, accusing Israel of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
The proceedings began yesterday with South Africa presenting its oral arguments.
Today, it is Israel’s turn to present its oral arguments in the case.
On Dec 29, last year, South Africa filed an application instituting proceedings against Israel seeking the ICJ to order Israel to stop its onslaught in Gaza immediately.
This aligned with mounting international pressure on Israel over its prolonged offensive in Gaza which has now entered its fourth month.
In the 84-page application, the country alleged that "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."
This, it claimed was a violation of the 1948 Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Genocide Convention).
South Africa is seeking the court to indicate provisional measures to protect against further, severe and irreparable harm to the rights of the Palestinian people under the Genocide Convention and to ensure Israel’s compliance with its obligations under the Convention to not engage in genocide and to prevent and to punish genocide.
It was also reported that it could be months or even years before the ICJ delivers a ruling in the case, but in the immediate term, South Africa was calling for an interim order for a ceasefire from the court, which could be delivered in the coming weeks.
South Africa's move to file the case represented one of the few avenues for an international body to make a clear statement about Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Meanwhile, Amnesty International said ongoing proceedings at the ICJ related to South Africa’s genocide case against Israel have the potential to safeguard Palestinian civilians, bring an "end to the man-made humanitarian catastrophe” in Gaza and provide a glimmer of hope for international justice.
Israel continues its attacks across the Gaza Strip following Hamas fighters’ operation on Oct 7, last year.
The latest Palestinian death toll (as of Jan 10) stood at 23,357, which involved more than 9,600 children.