The International Court of Justice in the Hague rejected Israel’s request to dismiss South Africa’s genocide charges. According to American judge Joan Donoghue, “at least some acts may fall within the scope of the convention”, which defines in what cases we can talk about the destruction (even partial) of a national, ethnic or religious group. And according to The Hague, at least some of South Africa’s complaints about human rights abuses are justified. For this reason, he said, “The court is of the opinion that it cannot accept Israel’s request to dismiss the case.” Additionally, the judges argue that “there is sufficient evidence for consideration.”
Israel will therefore have to “take all measures within its power” to prevent genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, including improving humanitarian conditions in the area. Judge Donoghue also called on Tel Aviv to ensure “with immediate effect” that its forces do not commit any of the acts covered by the genocide convention, adding that Palestinians appear to belong to groups protected by the convention. “The judge argued that Palestinians constitute a distinct national, ethnic, racial or religious group and therefore a protected group under Article 2 of the Genocide Convention”. The judge then recalled when Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant ordered a “total siege” of the Gaza Strip to fight “human animals.”
In the appeal filed by South Africa, the Court was asked to determine whether Israel’s behavior violated the convention against genocide, to which both Tel Aviv and Pretoria are parties. The South African state, in particular, accused Israel not only of committing acts of genocide, but also of failing to prevent and suppress acts of genocide attributable to soldiers. The Convention actually prohibits states from committing acts of genocide, but it also provides for obligations to prevent and suppress relevant individual acts.
The Hague’s decision is binding and cannot be appealed, but it is not certain that Israel will decide to respect it, as the Court does not have the tools to enforce sentences.
Source: Today IT
Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.
