THE HAGUE, January 11. /TASS/. Israel’s intent was to wipe out the Palestinian population in the Gaza Strip, South Africa's Supreme Court lawyer Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, representing the country at a hearing at the UN International Court of Justice on the lawsuit against Israel for allegedly violating the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, said.
"Israel has a genocidal intent against the Palestinians in Gaza. That is evident from the way in which Israel military’s attack is being conducted," he noted. Ngcukaitobi also believes that Israel’s intent is "rooted in the belief that, in fact, the enemy is not just the military wing of Hamas, or, indeed, Hamas general, but is imbedded in the fabric of Palestinian life in Gaza."
Lawyer Adila Hassim, in turn, drew attention to the fact that Israel's actions were aimed at displacing Palestinians and deliberately starving them out. In her view, Israel's operation has led to mass starvation, with 93% of the Gaza Strip's population in crisis. The situation is so dire that experts are now predicting that more Palestinians may die from hunger and disease than from the bombing. Israel, meanwhile, continues to obstruct the effective delivery of humanitarian aid to Palestinians, Hassim believes.
The South African Republic filed a lawsuit against Israel for allegedly violating the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (Genocide Convention) at the UN International Court of Justice in The Hague on December 29, 2023. The document asserts that the actions of the Israeli authorities can be characterized as genocide because they are being committed with the intent "to destroy Palestinians in Gaza as part of the broader Palestinian national, racial and ethnic group." South Africa’s claim asks the court to rule Israel is in breach of its obligations under the genocide convention and must cease all hostilities in the Gaza Strip as well as pay reparations.
In addition, South Africa has demanded precautionary measures be taken to protect Palestinians from further, grave and irreparable violations of their rights and to ensure Israel’s compliance with its obligations under the convention. That is the focus of this hearing, which will be held January 11-12. On the first day, the South African representatives will be given three hours to present their position. On the second day, the same amount of time will be granted to the Israeli side.
The court’s verdict on the precautionary measures is expected to be delivered within a few weeks. The court’s rulings are binding; however, the authority has no mechanism to enforce them.