South Africa’s bold decision to bring a case to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against Israel, accusing it of genocide against the people of Palestine, may have done more to shift the circumstances in Gaza than the howls of criticism across the globe.
Having gone through years of horrors under the racist apartheid system, the Republic of South Africa is well placed and has the credibility to be the author of this action against the Government of Israel and the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF).
The perennial and bloody conflict between Palestinians and Israelis took a most brutal turn last October 7 when Hamas fighters staged a deadly assault within Israel. The events that resulted in the deaths of 1 200 people and the kidnapping of more than 200, have escalated into the most violent scenes to be recorded in the Gaza Strip.
The area, which is home to more than two million people, has become a living hell for its residents. More than 22 000 Palestinians have been killed, most of them as a result of the widespread bombing undertaken by Israel.
Interestingly, unlike many wars where global media have been allowed – at their own risk – to cover the conflict, there has been a near communications blackout. Except for some brave souls from the Doha, Qatar-based Al Jazeera Media Network, many of whom lost their lives in the process, the international media has, for the most part, operated on the outskirts of the war.
Despite this, people across the globe have gained access to visual imagery of just how dire the situation has become in Gaza, as Israel seeks to “destroy” Hamas completely.
The result has been widespread condemnation of what has been viewed as the disproportionate actions of Israel where tens of thousands of innocent men, women and children have been killed.
The world has been sickened by the untold misery that has been imposed on the Palestinians, as Israel cut off water, food, petrol and communications to the strip while residents were forced to flee their homes and communities.
As much as people around the world sympathise with Israel and have condemned the Hamas attack on October 7, they cannot reconcile the ongoing tactics which seem to be destroying Palestinian civilians rather than Hamas, the original target. The collateral damage has been too much to bear.
It is for these reasons that the Caribbean Community has added its voice, calling for a ceasefire.
As South Africa presented its case this week before the ICJ in The Hague, Netherlands, St Vincent and the Grenadines Prime Minister Dr Ralph Gonsalves issued these very strong comments in a media statement on January 11: “The government of St Vincent and the Grenadines unequivocally supports the initiative of South Africa and again reiterates the just demand for a ceasefire. International law and elemental humanity ought to prevail over barbarism, genocide, and wanton abuse of military might.
“St Vincent and the Grenadines also calls for a cessation of material support and succour for Israel in Gaza by some governments. Those who continue to do so are complicit in genocide before our very eyes.”
Despite Israel’s dismissal of South Africa’s calls for a ceasefire to allow for humanitarian aid to Gaza, it has tried to present a formidable case at the ICJ.
South Africa is seeking an interim order from the ICJ for Israel to “immediately suspend its military operations in and against Gaza”.
Though many speculate that if the court rules in favour of South Africa, Israel will not comply, it is clear that the Jewish state, whose people were the victims of the Holocaust, does not want to be labelled by the highest United Nations judicial body as perpetrating genocide on another group of people.
South Africa’s Minister of Justice Ronald Lamola charged that Israel has “crossed the line” with its bombing of Gaza, which has led to the deaths of 23 000 people.
“The intent to destroy Gaza has been nurtured at the highest level of state,” Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, of South Africa’s High Court told the ICJ. “The evidence of genocidal intent is not only chilling, it is also overwhelming and incontrovertible.”
Whatever the decision of the ICJ, the ruling will have legal and political implications for years to come.
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