ICJ is in session

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is in session for the public hearing on the request for the indication of provisional measures submitted by South Africa in the case South Africa v. Israel

The International Court of Justice (ICJ), the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, is holding public hearings on the request for the indication of provisional measures submitted by South Africa in the case South Africa v. Israel on 11 and 12 January 2024, at the Peace Palace in The Hague, the seat of the Court. Session held under the presidency of Judge Joan E. Donoghue, President of the Court.

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On December 29, 2023, South Africa had moved the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against Israel amid international criticism of Israel for its continued bombing of Gaza. The case seeks an urgent order declaring that Israel is in breach of its obligations under the 1948 Genocide Convention.

The Nelson Mandela Foundation extended support to the South African legal team as well, as they appeared before the International Court of Justice today. In a post on social media platform X, it said “Wishing them strength and success in their pursuit of truth, justice and peace.”

WHAT IS THE UN’S GENOCIDE CONVENTION?

The term ‘genocide’ is often loosely used when speaking of attacks against various communities across the world, it has been defined using set criteria in the UN’s Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, moved in the General Assembly in 1948.

THESE COUNTRIES SUPPORT SA AGAINST ISRAEL IN ICJ

The 22 Arab countries are Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.

Pakistan has also showered its diplomatic support for the South Africa against Israel in ICJ.

The Belgian government on Wednesday asked its Foreign Affairs Ministry to examine a senior coalition member’s call to back South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice.

“We must act against the threat of genocide,” Deputy Prime Minister Petra de Sutter said on X. “I want Belgium to take action at the International Court of Justice, following the lead of South Africa.”

Israel launched its offensive after Hamas fighters carried out an Oct. 7 cross-border rampage in which Israel says 1,200 people were killed and 240 abducted.