Following the filing of genocide case at the United Nation’s top court, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) by South Africa last week, Israel has decided to defend itself by filing opposing papers.
The decision to defend itself has set up a high-stakes showdown before a panel of judges at the Hague following previous snubbing of such cases by the Israeli government.
Yesterday, Israel’s government swiftly rejected the genocide claim saying South Africa’s case lacks a legal foundation.
However, Eylon Levy, an official at the Israel prime minister’s office confirmed that the country will send a legal team to the Hague to “to dispel South Africa’s absurd blood libel.”
In the past, Israel has been ignoring international tribunals on its actions in the Gaza but the latest stance to respond emanate from a belief that it has a ‘strong case’ against the actions of Hamas.
Meanwhile, South Africa’s 84 paged document accused Israel actions as genocidal in character because they are intended to bring destruction of a substantial part” of the Palestinians in Gaza.
It therefore seeks to compel the ICJ, to make binding rulings and declare that Israel “has breached and continues to breach its obligations under the Genocide Convention,” and to order it (Israel) to cease hostilities in Gaza.
The war in Gaza has been ongoing since the 7th of October 2023 resulting in more than 22 000 Palestinians being killed.
By Desmond Nleya : Daily Times
