South Africa on Monday submitted evidence of Israel’s genocide in the Gaza Strip to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
“South Africa today submitted a memorial to the International Court of Justice in a case concerning the application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip on 28 October 2024,” the presidential office announced. A statement released Monday night.
“The evidence is detailed in more than 750 pages of text and supported by more than 4,000 pages of exhibits and appendices,” it said.
This is the latest step taken by South Africa in a lawsuit it launched in December 2023 accusing Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
The monument cannot be made public under ICJ rules, but its submission comes at a time when “Israel has stepped up its killings of civilians in the Gaza Strip and now appears to be heading down a similar path of destruction in Lebanon.” ” said the presidential office.
According to the statement, “This memorial commemorates how the Israeli government has violated the Genocide Convention by promoting the destruction of Palestinians living in Gaza, physically killing them with various weapons of destruction, and depriving them of access to humanitarian aid.” “Creating living conditions aimed at the physical destruction of Palestinians, ignoring and defying several interim measures of the ICJ, and using hunger as a weapon of war.” , furthering Israel’s objective of depopulating Gaza through the mass death and forced displacement of Palestinians.
“The evidence shows that what underpins Israel’s acts of genocide is its specific intent to commit genocide, its failure to prevent incitement to genocide, its failure to prevent genocide itself, and its failure to prevent genocide itself. It will demonstrate that those who instigate and carry out these acts will not be punished,” the statement said.
The South African President’s Office noted that the monument serves as a reminder to the international community to remember and stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people and to prevent further catastrophe.
“This devastation and suffering was made possible only because of Israel’s failure to comply with its international obligations, despite actions and interventions by the ICJ and numerous UN agencies,” the presidential office said.
“We reiterate our appeal for an immediate ceasefire in Palestine, Lebanon and the entire region, and for the start of a political process to ensure a just and lasting peace,” it added.
Last December, South Africa applied to the ICJ seeking an injunction to force Israel to cease its attacks on Palestine and declare these acts a genocide. In January, a United Nations court ordered Israel to take all measures to prevent acts of genocide and ensure humanitarian assistance in the Gaza Strip.
