Editorial

The International Court of Justice has ruled on South Africa's genocide case against Israel. It has ordered Israel to take all measures within its power to prevent genocide. It says Israel must ensure its forces do not commit genocide. The world holds its breath over the dire situation unfolding in Gaza. South Africa urgently sought an injunction against Israel's now 112-day onslaught, which has resulted in the displacement of 1.8 million people. The daily death toll in Gaza is “higher than in any other major conflict in the 21st century”, Oxfam reported.

Israel's military is reportedly causing an average of 250 Palestinian casualties daily, exceeding recent conflict norms, according to Oxfam's early January findings. At least 1 139 lives were lost in the horrific attacks by Hamas and other armed groups in Israel on 7 October.

Gaza's population is on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe, desperately in need of aid—basic necessities such as food, water, and medical supplies. The daily inflow of aid trucks, which averaged 500 before the conflict, has plummeted to a mere 100 since 7 October.

While global calls for a ceasefire escalate, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu rejects a recent proposal by Hamas. The proposal involves ending the war, releasing captives in exchange for withdrawing Israeli forces, releasing prisoners, and accepting Hamas's governance of Gaza. Netanyahu, however, staunchly maintains that accepting these conditions would dishonour the sacrifices of Israeli soldiers.

"I reject outright the terms of surrender of the monsters of Hamas," Netanyahu asserted on Sunday.

Israel's war in Gaza has exposed a deepening global divide with the West supporting the onslaught on the enclave. The US and UK have extended their support to Israel, exclaiming that it has the right to defend itself at all costs.

The United Nations declares this as a new cycle of "expansionist terror", adding to the decades-long suffering of the Palestinian people under occupation. While Hamas's actions on 7 October triggered an unprecedented level of violence, the conflict between Israel and Gaza has roots that extend nearly a century back.

Highlights
of SA’s ICJ genocide suit against Israel

29 December 2023
SA files an 84-page suit against Israel at the International Court of Justice in The Hague. 

SA accuses Israel of committing genocide in Gaza, in violation of the 1948 Genocide Convention which defines genocide as “acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group”.

According to the application, “acts and omissions by Israel . . . 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 genocidal actions listed in the suit include the killing of Palestinians in Gaza in large numbers, especially children; the destruction of their homes; their expulsion and displacement; as well as enforcing a blockade on food, water and medical assistance to the strip.