January 12, 2024
Israeli Foreign Ministry Legal Counsel Tal Becker (L) attends the hearing of Israel’s defense at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against South Africa’s genocide case in Gaza against Israel on January 12, 2024, in the Hague, Netherlands
Israel “failed to disprove” South Africa’s genocide case presented before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), South Africa’s Justice Minister said on Friday, Anadolu Agency reports.
Following Israel’s defence at the World Court, Ronald Lamola, who led the South African delegation, told reporters in The Hague: “State of Israel, today, failed to disprove South Africa as compelling that was presented before the Court.”
“We believe and remain very confident that those facts (are) still in violation of the Genocide Convention,” Lamola said.
Regarding Israel’s claim that South Africa “misunderstood” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s reference to the Amelekites (descendants of Amelek) and that the term has nothing to do with “incitement to genocide against the Palestinian people”, he said that such reference cannot be ignored.
“How can you ignore the statement of the Prime Minister’s Amelek reference?” he asked, noting that it was repeated by other Israeli ministers “clearly showing implementation of policy”.
Amelekites are an ancient group of people seen in the Jewish scriptures as persecutors of the Israelites.
The Minister reiterated:
No matter what some individual within the group of Palestine and Gaza may have done, and no matter how great the threat to Israeli citizens might be, genocidal attacks on the whole of Gaza … with the intent of destroying them cannot be justified at all
Lamola also responded to Israel’s accusation calling South Africa’s arguments “confusing and partial”. He said most of its arguments, including humanitarian aid and displacement, were also by the UN.
Ammar Hijazi, the assistant Minister for Multilateral Affairs of the State of Palestine, said that Israel has “not been able to provide any solid arguments on the basis of fact and law”, during its oral arguments.
What Israel has provided today are many of the already debunked lies that have been said before
Hijazi said.
VIEW: Israel is relying on the US to veto a UNSC verdict should the ICJ rule in favour of South Africa
UN human rights experts welcome start of genocide case against Israel at ICJ
January 12, 2024
UN human rights experts yesterday welcomed the start of the genocide case against Israel that was brought by South Africa before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, Anadolu news agency reported.
Any decision the ICJ reaches on provisional measures must be respected and implemented by the parties to the dispute, stressed the experts in a statement.
They added: “ICJ decisions are final, binding, and not subject to appeal. Adherence to any order the Court may make by the parties involved is imperative for protecting the rights of Palestinians and reinforcing the primacy of international law.”
Commending South Africa for bringing the case to the ICJ “at a time when the rights of Palestinians in Gaza are being violated with impunity,” the experts called on all states to cooperate with the court.
The experts also welcomed the statements of support by many states for South Africa’s action in bringing the case to the court, as well as the principled stand taken by individuals and organisations in the world that have expressed support for the case by South Africa.
Public hearings in the genocide case against Israel began at the ICJ yesterday, when South Africa presented hard evidence of Israel’s intent to commit genocide by highlighting the calls and actions of the prime minister, ministers and the army since 7 October.
Israel mounts its defence today, saying it is carrying out self-defence.
READ: OIC applauds delivery of South Africa genocide case against Israel at ICJ
January 12, 2024
Ayman Safadi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of Jordan speaks during the Security Council meeting on The situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian question at United Nations Headquarters.
Jordan said, on Friday, Israeli “war crimes” against Palestinians were to blame for heightened regional tension and violence in the Red Sea which it said threatened to ignite a wider war in the Middle East, Reuters reports.
Foreign Minister, Ayman Safadi, also voiced support for South Africa’s “genocide” case against Israel at the UN’s top Court over the war against Hamas in Gaza, and said Amman was ready to submit legal documents and appear in Court if the case proceeds.
Israel has denied allegations that it has committed war crimes, and rejected as “grossly distorted” the accusations brought by South Africa that the military operation in Gaza is a state-led genocide campaign against the Palestinian population.
In comments after the US and Britain launched strikes on Houthi military targets in Yemen in response to the Movement’s attacks on ships in the Red Sea, Safadi said the international community had failed to act to stop Israeli “aggression” against Palestinians which was endangering regional security.
“The Israeli aggression on Gaza and its continued committing of war crimes against the Palestinian people and violating international law with impunity are responsible for the rising tensions witnessed in the region,” Safadi said in remarks carried by state media.
The stability of the region and its security were closely tied, Safadi said.
“The international community is at a humanitarian, moral, legal and security crossroads,” he said.
“Either it shoulders its responsibilities and ends Israel’s arrogant aggression and protects civilians, or allows Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, and his extremist ministers to drag us to a regional war that threatens world peace.”
Safadi said Israel was pushing the region towards more conflict “by continuing its aggression and its attempt to open new fronts,” and that Israeli military actions against civilians in Gaza met the legal definition of genocide.
“Jordan supports South Africa in its case against Israel,” he said. “We will submit legal documentation and appear at the Court when or if the case is accepted.”
'I'm confident there will be a hearing and I hope it will change a lot of stuff, I think also it's also important to remain in the streets and to still be visible.' As South Africa's case against Israel is held at the International Court of Justice, MEMO speaks to pro-Palestine demonstrators in the Hague who expressed hope that those who are sitting on the fence or unsure about what was happening will now see there is a genocide unfolding in Gaza.
January 12, 2024
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