The United Nations top court began hearings Thursday on South Africas case against Israel for genocide mdash a case that Israel and its top a
The United Nations’ top court began hearings Thursday on South Africa’s case against Israel for genocide – a case that Israel and its top ally, the U.S., flatly refute – raising the stakes for U.S. relations with nations that disagree.
South Africa’s legal team on Thursday launched their argument before a panel of judges that Israel’s actions amount to a ‘pattern of genocide.’ They are seeking an emergency suspension of the Israeli campaign that started after the Palestinian militant group Hamas launched a stunning October 7 attack on Israeli civilians that killed about 1,200 people and took 240 hostages.
Israel will present its arguments Friday. Judges could take years to rule.
‘Our government has approached the International Court of Justice to prevent the unfolding genocide in Gaza,’ said South African Justice Minister Ronald Lamola, speaking outside the court. ‘We have also asked for provisional measures, which include an immediate suspension of Israel’s military operations in and against Gaza. The commitment to justice and bring an end to the humanitarian atrocities in Palestine resonate deeply with the collective consciousness of the global community.’
South Africa argues that Israel has violated the 1948 Genocide Convention and compared the situation to one closer to home.
‘The scale of these actions is reminiscent of the Rwandan genocide 30 years ago,’ Lamola said.
Israel has dismissed the accusations as baseless.
Embed share UN Court Starts Genocide Hearing Against Israel Despite US Calling Case ‘Meritless’ Embed share The code has been copied to your clipboard.
