THE HAGUE, Jan 26 (NNN-XINHUA) – The International Court of Justice (ICJ), is set to deliver a ruling, on South Africa’s genocide case against Israel today in the Hague. It will also rule on South Africa’s demand for the court’s urgent intervention, to stop Israel’s military operation in Gaza.
Judge Joan E. Donoghue, president of the court, will read out the order at 1.00 p.m. local time (1200 GMT), during a public sitting at the Peace Palace.
On Dec 29, 2023, South Africa filed an application to the ICJ, for proceedings against Israel, concerning alleged violations by Israel of its obligations under the UN Convention, on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide related to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
In this application, South Africa also requested the court to indicate provisional measures, in order to “protect against further, severe and irreparable harm to the rights of the Palestinian people, under the Genocide Convention,” and “to ensure Israel’s compliance with its obligations under the Genocide Convention, not to engage in genocide, and to prevent and to punish genocide.”
During the two-day public hearings held earlier this month, South African representatives accused Israel of “deliberate” and “systemic” genocide against Palestinians. Israeli representatives argued that, Israel’s military operation in Gaza was an act of self-defence, and denied South Africa’s genocide accusation.
As the principal judicial organ of the United Nations, the ICJ was established by the UN Charter in 1945. It has the power “to indicate, if it considers that circumstances so require, any provisional measures,” while resolving legal disputes between countries. Its judgment is final and without appeal.– NNN-XINHUA
