Rights teams welcome South Africa’s Israel genocide case

Three Palestinian rights teams have “warmly welcomed” South Africa’s lodging of a case alleging Israel is perpetrating genocide in Gaza to the Worldwide Court docket of Justice (ICJ).

Al-Haq, Al Mezan, and the Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) additionally urged the ICJ, the UN’s highest court docket, to expedite the proceedings given the “important state of affairs” within the strip.

Pretoria filed its case – which argued that Israel was participating in “genocidal acts in opposition to the Palestinian folks in Gaza” – on Friday.

“This principled transfer stands as a testomony to South Africa’s unyielding dedication to human rights, justice, and accountability, because it additional serves as a beacon of hope for the restoration of the worldwide authorized order,” the three Palestinian rights teams stated in a press release.

“We, Palestinian civil society organisations, have, as early as 13 October 2023, warned and urged states to intervene to guard the Palestinian folks in opposition to impending genocide.

“Since then, Israel’s intent has solely change into extra pronounced, marked by each express genocidal statements and genocidal acts dedicated by the Israeli army.”

It got here amid Israel’s struggle on Gaza, which has to this point killed 21,672 folks, in accordance with the enclave’s well being ministry.

The Palestinian rights teams, although welcoming of South Africa’s authorized case, had been important of different nations.

“Whereas we commend South Africa, we should additionally confront the simple fact that some third states haven’t solely did not uphold worldwide legislation and their authorized obligations, together with their obligation to finish the fee of the crime of genocide, however have shamelessly been complicit in perpetuating injustice, together with by publicly objecting to a ceasefire, and persevering with to produce Israel with army gear,” they stated.

“South Africa’s decisive motion ought to function greater than a wake-up name; it calls for that every one Third States rigorously reassess their dedication to worldwide legislation and human rights.”

Israeli overseas ministry spokesperson Lior Haiat responded to South Africa’s choice to file its case with the ICJ by saying Israel is dedicated to and acts in compliance with worldwide legislation.

He stated on social media platform X that his nation “reacts with disgust” at what he referred to as the “blood libel unfold by South Africa in its utility” to the court docket.

“South Africa’s declare lacks each a factual and a authorized foundation, and constitutes a despicable and contemptuous exploitation of the court docket,” he added.

Haiat stated Israel calls on the ICJ and worldwide neighborhood to “fully reject” Pretoria’s “baseless claims”.