On January 11 and 12, the trial between South Africa and Israel at the International Court of Justice attracted international attention. Pretoria accuses the Israeli state of the crime of genocide in Gaza. French-Lebanese researcher and political scientist, Ziad Majed looks back on this “historic” trial.
Lawyers representing South Africa and Israel appeared before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on January 11 and 12 to establish whether Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.
These public hearings follow the complaint filed
by South Africa for “violation of the 1948 United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of Genocide” on December 29, 2023.
In addition to accusing Israel of genocide, South Africa has also asked the International Court of Justice for “provisional measures.” These include the immediate suspension of Israel’s military operations in Gaza to protect the population, as well as measures to preserve evidence related to the case.
For the Bondy blog, Ziad Majed, professor and director panama phone number library of the Middle Eastern studies program at the American University of Paris, looks back on this trial. Interview.
The adjective “historic” is often used to describe the trial between Israel and South Africa at the ICJ. Why is this the case?
We are indeed facing a historic event, for several reasons. First, it is rare for the International Court of Justice to be seized of accusations of genocide.
The case presented by South Africa is both strong
with information and a very substantial database regarding the crimes committed during this war. But it also presents documentation of the intentions of genocide, namely the will to annihilate a group or part of a group by any means possible.
Bombing (killing over 20,000 civilians), forced what if we don’t separate? displacement (of over 80% of the population), siege, denial of access to medical care. As well as affecting mental health and destroying ao lists or depriving everything that allows a life to thrive. Such as health infrastructure, ambulances, water, electricity, fuel, bakeries, schools, universities, etc.
So there is an extreme seriousness in relation to the practices and crimes during this war, and South Africa is putting Israel in the dock for the first time.
