After three months of besieging and bombarding the Gaza Strip in its war against Hamas, Israel is now facing a charge of genocide at the International Court of Justice. South Africa has argued that Israel intends to create conditions of death in Gaza and has demanded an emergency suspension of the military campaign. South African lawyers presented their case in The Hague, offering evidence such as the words of Israeli officials, including Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, who referred to the people of Gaza as “human animals.” Israel denies the genocide accusation and will present its defense on Friday.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel called the accusations “an upside-down world” and emphasized that Israel is fighting against genocide, not committing it. The allegation of genocide is significant for Israel, a country founded after the Holocaust. However, proving intent is often challenging in such cases.
While the United States has defended Israel’s campaign against Hamas, American and European officials have pressured Israel to scale back its military operations. Many nations around the world have criticized Israel for the devastating toll on Gazan civilians.
South Africa filed the case last month, driven by both a desire to stop a genocide and longstanding support for the Palestinian cause. The court could take years to reach a verdict on the genocide allegations, but it may rule on emergency measures in the coming weeks. South Africa has requested the court to order the end of the military campaign and allow the provision of essential resources to Gazans.
Israel argues that Hamas should face charges of genocide and other crimes. Israeli officials claim that many of Israel’s critics have not sufficiently condemned Hamas, which calls for the destruction of Israel and the murder of Jews. The proceedings were celebrated by Palestinians in the West Bank, while many in Gaza doubt that the case will have any effect on their situation.