Published: 4 January 2024
Last updated: 5 March 2024
South Africa is leading the allegation against Israel, claiming the war against Hamas which followed the October 7 massacre is ‘genocidal’ in character.
The first hearing at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on the South African filing accusing Israel of perpetrating genocide against the Palestinians in the ongoing war with Hamas in Gaza is scheduled for next week.
A January 11 hearing will see South African representatives lay out their case against Israel, while Israel will present its defence against the charges on January 12, according to a schedule announced by an Israeli government spokesman.
The spokesman said Israeli representatives will appear before the court to defend Israel’s position, which he described as “a blood libel” against the Jewish state.
In its application filed last week, South Africa accused Israel of actions during its war against Hamas in Gaza that are “genocidal in character, as they are committed with the requisite specific intent… to destroy Palestinians in Gaza as a part of the broader Palestinian national, racial and ethnical group.”
The accusation is vehemently denied by Israel. “The State of Israel emphatically condemns South Africa’s decision to play devil’s advocate and make itself criminally complicit with the perpetrators of the October 7 massacre,” said Israeli government spokesperson Eylon Levy during a press conference on Tuesday.
If the court rules that Israel committed genocide, the damage will be largely in the court of public opinion, though it could empower the BDS movement.
