The Republic of South Africa filed a lawsuit with the International Court of Justice requesting an interim injunction on the grounds that Israel’s actions in Gaza since October 7 violate the 1948 United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide.
The Republic of South Africa has filed a lawsuit with the International Court of Justice requesting an interim injunction against Israel for violating the 1948 United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide by its actions in Gaza since October 7.
South Africa sues Israel for genocide
In a written statement made by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), it was reported that South Africa filed an application on the grounds that Israel violated its obligations under the “Genocide Convention” towards Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
The statement said that South Africa requested an injunction against Israel for “failing to prevent genocide since October 7, 2023 and failing to prosecute direct and public incitement to genocide”.
“Israel’s acts and omissions are genocidal because they were committed with the specific intent to commit genocide,” the application said, adding that the actions were aimed at “exterminating Palestinians in Gaza”.
UN calls for ‘urgent restraint’ in Gaza
“The government of Israel, through its state officials and other persons and entities acting on the instructions of, at the direction of, under the direction of, under the control of, or under the influence of its state officials and other agents, is in breach of its obligations under the Genocide Convention by its actions against Palestinians in Gaza,” the statement said.
The lawsuit is based on Article 9 of the Convention
Pursuant to Article 9 of the Genocide Convention, if a state violates the articles of the convention, any state party to the convention can bring a case against the violating state before the ICJ.
In cases of urgency, the ICJ can issue an interim injunction to halt such violations pending the outcome of the proceedings.
Previously, Gambia, on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, applied to the ICJ on November 11, 2019 to investigate the genocide of Arakanese Muslims.
Israel’s invasion of Gaza after October 7
On October 7, the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, launched a comprehensive attack on Israel on the grounds of “responding to the continuous violations against Palestinians and holy sites, especially the Al-Aqsa Mosque”.
Israel announced that 1,200 Israelis were killed and 5,132 wounded in the attacks on October 7.
At least 21,507 Palestinians, including 8,800 children and 6,300 women, were killed and 55,915 people were injured in Israel’s attacks on the Gaza Strip. While thousands of dead are reported to be under the rubble, civilian infrastructure is being destroyed by targeting hospitals and educational institutions where people take shelter.
The Israeli army announced that 502 of its soldiers, 168 of whom were killed during the ground invasion, have been killed since October 7, when its attacks on the Gaza Strip began.
During the “humanitarian break” in the fighting, which was granted for 4 days on November 24 and then extended for another 3 days, 81 Israelis and 240 Palestinian prisoners were mutually released. However, Israel continued to detain and imprison thousands of Palestinians.
In the occupied West Bank and Jerusalem, 315 Palestinians were killed in attacks by Israeli forces and illegal Jewish settlers.
Since October 8, clashes between the Israeli army and Hezbollah on the border have killed 28 Lebanese civilians, 129 Hezbollah members, 5 Israeli civilians and 9 Israeli soldiers.
