South Africa accuses Israel of escalating genocide in Gaza, urges ICJ action
“South Africa’s demands constitute the most minimum requirements of humanity,” Deputy Minister Hijazi says emphasizing genocide against defenseless Palestinian women and children continues
Zane Dangor, Director-General of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation of South Africa, stated that Israel’s attacks in Rafah have worsened the humanitarian situation in Gaza and intensified the intent of genocide.
Following the court hearing on the additional measures requested by South Africa from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) due to the irreversible harm caused to the rights of Gazans by Israel’s attacks in Rafah, Dangor made a press statement.
Addressing the press along with South Africa’s Ambassador to The Hague Vusimuzi Madonsela and Deputy Minister of Multilateral Affairs of the Palestinian Foreign Minister Ambassador Ammar Hijazi, Dangor stated that since the last interim measures of the court, Israel has escalated its violations, attacks, killings, and genocide actions in Gaza, especially in Rafah.
“We requested additional interim measures from the court for the 3rd time. We demand new measures because the humanitarian situation in Gaza has drastically changed since the last decision. 13,000 more people have died since January. Our request is for the Court to stop this by using its power unequivocally,” said Dangor.
Zangor emphasized that instead of implying what Israel should do, the Court should order Israel to cease its genocide actions in Gaza and end its military operations throughout Gaza with clear, definite, and direct expressions.
We should not expect a political solution
South Africa stressed the need for the Court to directly use its authority and power rather than waiting for a political solution, Zangor highlighted that they demanded the Court to rule that Israel must end its operations in Gaza and comply with all other measures.
Zangor expressed that the situation in Gaza has significantly changed, hence the new requests for interim measures should be considered reasonable and accepted by the Court.
Deputy Minister Hijazi stated that states need a law-based international order seriously, emphasizing that South Africa defends these values and the law-based international order in the case against Israel.
Hijazi mentioned that some countries ignore the decisions of the ICJ and Israel’s violations, saying, “South Africa’s demands constitute the most minimum requirements of humanity.”
“Genocide against defenseless Palestinian women, children, and elderly who have done nothing to deserve these attacks but being Palestinian and living in Gaza continues. This situation is also valid for the West Bank. Therefore, we are grateful to South Africa for filing the case and following the process,” Hijazi said.
South Africa requested a new interim measure on May 10
In its decision announced on January 26, the Court ruled on interim measures in six articles, stating that Israel must act in accordance with its obligations under the Genocide Convention.
As Israel did not comply with these interim measures and following the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza, South Africa first requested urgently new interim measures from the ICJ on February 13 due to the large-scale killings, damages, and destruction that Israel’s planned attack on Rafah would cause.
In its decision on February 16, the Court found the interim measures ruled on January 26 sufficient, citing no significant developments requiring new interim measures.
South Africa made its second request for additional measures on March 6 due to the famine in Gaza, and the Court ruled on March 28 for additional measures, especially to ensure the delivery of humanitarian aid to Palestinians.
South Africa applied to the Court for interim measures on May 10.
New interim measures requested
The new interim measures requested by South Africa against Israel are as follows:
- Israel will cease its military attacks in Rafah and withdraw immediately.
- Israel will take all effective measures immediately to enable and facilitate unimpeded access to Gaza for United Nations agencies, civil society organizations, researchers, and journalists, including not obstructing access by its military.
- Israel will submit an accessible report to the Court within one week of the announcement of the new interim measures, explaining the measures it has taken to implement both the previous and the newly requested interim measures.
Genocide case against Israel at the ICJ
The Republic of South Africa filed a lawsuit against Israel at the ICJ on December 29, 2023, on the grounds that Israel violated the 1948 United Nations (UN) Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.
Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan announced that Türkiye would intervene in the case.
Source: Newsroom
