South Africa on Thursday demanded the International Court of Justice (ICJ) impose provisional measures on Israel to halt its assault on Gaza, whereas asking Israel to take measures to “prevent genocide.”
At a listening to of its genocide case in opposition to Israel in The Hague, the South African delegation stated: “The future of the Palestinians who are still in Gaza depends on the decision this court will make on this matter.”
The delegation underlined that the mass killing of Palestinians in Gaza fashioned a “calculated pattern of conduct by Israel indicating a genocidal intent.”
Adila Hassim, one of many delegation’s attorneys, underscored on the listening to that the genocide case “underscores the very essence of our shared humanity as expressed in the preamble to the Genocide Convention.”
Stressing that genocides are “never declared in advance,” Hassim stated: “But this court has the benefit of the past 13 weeks of evidence that shows incontrovertibly, a pattern of conduct and related intention that justifies a plausible claim of genocidal acts.”
The delegation additionally demanded the ICJ not hesitate to impose provisional measures, because it “did not hesitate” within the case of the genocide in opposition to Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar, asserting that the state of affairs in Gaza additionally deserves court docket intervention.
“There is an urgent need for provisional measures to prevent imminent irreparable prejudice” on this case, South Africa stated, underlining that “there could not be a clearer or more compelling case.”
WORLD ‘SHOULD BE ASHAMED’
The delegation urged the ICJ that “there must be an end to the decimation of Gaza and its people,” because the worldwide neighborhood “continues to fail” to take motion.
“The international community continues to fail the Palestinian people, despite the overt, dehumanizing genocidal rhetoric by Israeli governmental and military officials, matched by the Israeli army actions on the ground,” it stated.
“Despite the horror of the genocide against the Palestinian people, being live streamed from Gaza to our mobile phones, computers and television screens, the first genocide in history where its victims are broadcasting their own destruction in real time in the desperate so far vain hope that the world might do something,” the delegation additional stated.
“The world should be absolutely horrified. The world should be absolutely outraged,” it stated and added: “There is no safe space in Gaza and the world should be ashamed.”
South Africa additionally emphasised that the cross-border assault by the Palestinian group Hamas on Oct. 7 “cannot justify Israel’s genocidal acts.”
“No matter what some individuals within the group of Palestinians in Gaza may have done, no matter how great the threat to Israeli citizens might be, genocidal attacks on the whole of Gaza population cannot be justified,” it informed the ICJ.
It added: “No exception can be made in a provisional measures order to allow a state to engage in actions that are capable of violating its obligations under the Genocide Convention. It is unthinkable that the court would ever do such a thing. That is the simple point in this case.”
“Genocide can never be justified in any circumstances,” it burdened, noting that South Africa already condemned the Oct. 7 assault.
ISRAEL’S MILITARY OPERATIONS ‘SHOULD BE SUSPENDED IMMEDIATELY’
The South African delegation known as on Israel to “immediately suspend” its navy operations in and in opposition to Gaza.
The delegation burdened the fast suspension of Israel’s operations is “the only way to secure humanitarian response and avoid getting more unnecessary death and destruction.”
It additionally urged Israeli authorities to take “all reasonable measures within their power to prevent genocide,” whereas guaranteeing no “furtherance of military operations” by the forces beneath its management or affect.
Israel ought to take measures together with rescinding of related orders of restrictions, prohibitions to stop expulsion, pressured displacement of Gazans, it requested.
The delegation additionally demanded from Israel to permit entry to humanitarian help in Gaza, together with sufficient shelter, garments, hygiene, sanitation and medical provides.
Furthermore, South Africa requested Israel to take “effective measures” to make sure preservation of proof associated to allegations of genocidal acts.
PUBLIC HEARINGS COMMENCE
Public hearings within the genocide case in opposition to Israel started on Thursday at ICJ in The Hague.
On the primary day of the trial, South Africa offered laborious proof within the case it filed on Dec. 29, accusing Israel of genocide and violation of the UN Genocide Convention with its actions within the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7.
The South African facet is requesting an injunction by the highest UN court docket to halt Israel’s navy assault on Gaza, which has dragged on for greater than three months, with the loss of life toll rising to over 23,300.
The 84-page submitting by South Africa accuses Israel of acts and omissions “genocidal in character, as they are committed with the requisite specific intent … to destroy Palestinians in Gaza as a part of the broader Palestinian national, racial and ethnical group.”
It stated Israel’s genocidal acts embody the killing of Palestinians, inflicting them critical bodily and psychological hurt, mass expulsion from properties and displacement, imposing measures supposed to stop Palestinian births, and deprivation of entry to sufficient meals, water, shelter, sanitation, and medical help.
The South African delegation is being led by Justice Minister Ronald Lamola and shall be joined by senior political figures from progressive political events and actions throughout the globe.
Thursday’s listening to shall be adopted by Israel’s arguments in its protection the following day.
Source: www.anews.com.tr