Here are countries which welcomed the ICJ case that says Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
By Al Jazeera
Both South Africa and Israel are signatories to the 1948 Genocide Convention which gives the ICJ the jurisdiction to rule on disputes over the treaty [Fatima Shbair/AP]
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) based in The Hague will hold its first hearing in South Africa’s genocide case against Israel on Thursday, with several countries welcoming the move amid a global chorus for a ceasefire in Gaza.
South Africa filed the lawsuit end of December, accusing Israel of genocide in its war on Gaza and seeking a halt to the brutal military assault that has killed more than 23,000 Palestinians, nearly 10,000 of them children.
The 84-page filing by South Africa says Israel violated the 1948 Genocide Convention, drawn up in the aftermath of World War II and the Holocaust.
Both Israel and South Africa are signatories to the United Nations Genocide Convention, which gives the ICJ – the highest UN legal body – jurisdiction to rule on disputes over the treaty.
All states that signed the convention are obliged to not commit genocide and also to prevent and punish it. The treaty defines genocide as “acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group”.
Here’s what we know about the countries backing South Africa in its case against Israel, and the countries that oppose the case at the world court.
Which countries have welcomed South Africa’s ICJ case against Israel?
- The Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC): The 57-member bloc, which includes Saudi Arabia, Iran, Pakistan and Morocco, voiced their support for the case on December 30.
- Malaysia: In a statement released on January 2, the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the South African application. It reiterated a call for an independent Palestinian state “based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital”.
- Turkey: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Oncu Keceli posted on X on January 3 welcoming South Africa’s move.
- Jordan: Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said on January 4 that Amman would back South Africa.
- Bolivia: On Sunday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bolivia dubbed South Africa’s move as historic, becoming the first Latin American country to back the ICJ case against Israel.
- Besides countries, many advocacy groups and civil society groups worldwide have also joined South Africa’s call. These include Terreiro Pindorama in Brazil, Asociacion Nacional de Amistad Italia-Cuba in Italy, and Collectif Judeo Arabe et Citoyen pour la Palestine in France, reported independent outlet Common Dreams.
Which countries filed the ICC request earlier?
Bolivia also pointed out it had earlier filed a request to International Criminal Court (ICC) Prosecutor Karim Khan alongside South Africa, Bangladesh, Comoros, and Djibouti to investigate the situation in Palestine. Khan said he received the request on November 30.
The ICC and the ICJ are sometimes conflated with one another. Both the courts are located in The Hague, Netherlands. While the purpose of the ICJ is to resolve conflicts between states, the ICC prosecutes individuals for committing crimes, according to the University of Melbourne’s Pursuit platform. While states cannot be sued at the ICC, the prosecutor can open an investigation where crimes, including genocide, were likely committed.
Who is not backing South Africa’s ICJ case?
The United States has voiced its opposition to the genocide case. National security spokesperson John Kirby called South Africa’s submission “meritless, counterproductive, and completely without any basis” during a White House press briefing on January 3.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog told US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday that “there is nothing more atrocious and preposterous” than the lawsuit. Herzog also thanked Blinken for Washington’s support of Israel.
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Israel’s Western allies, including the European Union, have mostly maintained silence on the ICJ case.
The United Kingdom, which has refused to support the case, has been accused of double standards after it submitted detailed legal documents to the ICJ about a month ago to support claims that Myanmar committed genocide against the Rohingya community.
Comments
16 responses to “Which countries back South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at ICJ?”
As a Canadian it is embarrassing our government is silent. But it’s not surprising. The world continues to divide into East/West, North/South G7/BRICS. Where is it leading? WW3?
CANADA IS A GOOEY MUSH OF CROOKED BRITS SH IT, MENTAL DISABLED FRENCH, SUPREMACIST GERMANS, CRIMINAL MINDED TAX EVADERS INDIANS ETC; ALL THESE ARE RACISTS & HAVE HISTORY BOOKS TILL DATE FULL OF THEIR PREJUDICED MINDS & ACTIONS. HOW CAN CANADA BE DIFFERENT ? SO WHAT ELSE IS NEW ??
Canada was once upon a time a very respected country, supporting human rights .What has happened to such a voice when the Palestinian people are dying for the cause of freedom, democracy and most of all ,human dignity . We as Canadians at the very least should be publicly sending our support to South Africa for their courage to step up to the need.
On behalf of all Kanadians, I apologize for our (Terrorist Government) who, by the way support IsraHell !!!!
Same with Australia, we are all the way with Bibi
It is such a shame. Where is Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Indonesia, UAE, Qatar, Pakistan ? By not joining or supporting South Africa’s Genocide case, these countries are actually helping the case to fail. The Muslim Ummah is to be like one body. Does the daily mass killing not make your heart crushed with pain ? How can you so grossly ignore the pain of your brothers and sisters and children ?
I do suppoprt South Africa because what these terrorists israelis are committing against
the Palestinians are crimes & they must pay for their crimes.
Joe Damouni
Where is Russia? Where is China? Where is BRICS? Last year Russia/Putin was talking about a new order in the world based on the justice, in November Putin got very emotional mentioning that children having surgery in Gaza without anestesi and talked about a sacred act of Russia going to send Gaza food, water, medicine…. I am still waiting for Russian/Putin’s aid…..
Israel and the US as well as others are committing atrocities yet you take this opportunity to condemn Russia, China and BRICS, who are not. Your intent seems to be not to defend Palestinans but to attack those in opposition to genocide and our own murderous leaders.
Any country can step up to the plate for compassionate reason with food,water ,clothing and health care materials but if it is not allowed into Gaza ,then what ? Keep in mind that Russia, has sent shiploads of wheat to African countries, no charge .In case you did not know . What has our Western nations ever done for the African nations ? Lybia and so many others .
The much vaunted ‘ru£€$ based order’ dissolves into ‘just obeying orders’, yet again.
It should come as a monumental surprise that South Africa is filing this genocide case against Israel at the ICJ? Why? … because South Africa is run and controlled by the Jews and the closet Jews, the British Royal Family. Therefore, I suspect that there might be some ‘mischief-afoot’ … perhaps to create a ‘get-out-of-jail-free’ sideshow to draw the flack away from what might really be happening. The Prime minister, Cyril Ramaphorsa, has been nothing more than an errand-boy since his ‘selection’ and might well be acting on instructions from his controllers to assuage a debt for protecting him for the mystery-money which appeared in his couch. The Khazarians are known not to phuck-around when they want something, so … what is the point of logging a case with the notoriously ineffective ICJ which is well known to be Khazarian Mafia controlled, and then actually expecting a result, this century? I mean, get-the-F outta here, the case might be like a pipe-dream, placed at the door, to lie there, and die there.
There can’t be even one ‘human’-being on this planet who would not support the complete eradication and destruction of this satanic state of ‘Isra-hell from the face earth.
The us,uk,europe, Australia, ew Zealand, Canada will never support Palestinians against Israel because it is their citizens who are responsible for the murders. Who are the setters in Palestine. Where do they hail from. Western media outlet never reveals their identity . They know exactly who they are. How can the world expect these countries to bring peace in Palestine when they are the problems. These people should never be trusted. They are all colonisers and been active in genocdethe world over.
Well the horrible Mark Regev is Australian and the Israel lobby in Australia is the most rancid in the world
I am amazed that so many have forgotten how long that Israel has been murdering Palestinians and stealing land. Since 1948 this has been happening, and that is 75 years!
I am horrified that the US is acting as if poor Israel needs help—no they need to have US funding cut off permanently and land returned to the Palestinians.