On Jan. 11, Israel began its defense against genocide accusations in a United Nations Court. The case will be presented to the United Nations International Court of Justice by South Africa, an ardent critic of Israel.
South Africa made claims against Israel for defying international laws by committing genocidal acts against Palestinians in Gaza. Israel denies the South African claims describing the accusations as “atrocious and preposterous.” The United States, a close ally of Israel, has also denounced the allegations of genocide committed by Israel.
If the court rules Israel is liable for genocide, then enforcement of punishment against Israel may be difficult. The court’s rulings are in fact law, but not all countries follow the rulings of the International Court of Justice.
It is unknown how Israel could react to a guilty verdict from the ICJ. For example, Russia ignored the court’s ruling to cease its war on Ukraine in 2022.
As the casualty rates continue to rise in Gaza, the ICJ case adds pressure on Israel to de-escalate its attack on Hamas by the international community. The Palestinian Health Ministry claims that, as of Jan. 11, more than 23,400 people have been killed since the beginning of the conflict.
Before opening arguments were made in the court case, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made a public statement saying, “Israel has no intention of permanently occupying Gaza or displacing its civilian population.”
Netanyahu’s comments have drawn criticism from the U.S. and other nations. Israel presented its case to the court on Jan. 12.
Israel’s defense stands on the case that their attacks in Gaza are directed at Hamas soldiers and not civilian targets. The Israeli government made claims that civilian casualties are a regrettable outcome of military operations conducted in highly populated urban environments.
The Israeli government has presented evidence to the ICJ that it has delivered food, water, medical supplies, and fuel to Gaza. They have also highlighted how the Israeli Defense Force runs a Civilian Harm Mitigation Unit.
The court will more than likely take several years to determine whether or not Israel has committed genocide or not. The court’s goal will be to determine whether these allegations presented by South Africa are at least credible or not.
However, if the court’s rulings are in favor of South Africa, then Israel, a major world power supported by the U.S. and the Western World, will be viewed as a nation that has committed some of the most atrocious crimes, in turn putting more pressure on Western countries from the international community.
