EXPLANER
Here are the countries that have welcomed the ICJ’s case that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
The Hague-based International Court of Justice (ICJ) will hold its first hearing in the South African genocide case against Israel on Thursday, with several countries welcoming the decision amid a global chorus for a cease-fire. fire in Gaza.
South Africa filed a lawsuit in late December, accusing Israel of genocide in its war on Gaza and seeking to end the brutal military assault that has killed more than 23,000 Palestinians, including nearly 10,000 children.
The 84-page document filed by South Africa claims that Israel violated the 1948 Genocide Convention, developed in the aftermath of World War II and the Holocaust.
Israel and South Africa are both signatories to the UN Genocide Convention, which gives the ICJ – the UN’s highest legal body – jurisdiction to rule on treaty-related disputes.
All States signatories to the convention are required not to commit genocide, but also to prevent and punish it. The treaty defines genocide as “acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group.”
Here’s what we know about the countries that support South Africa’s case against Israel, and the countries that oppose the case at the World Court.
Which countries welcomed South Africa’s appeal against Israel to the ICJ?
- The Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC): The 57-member bloc, which includes Saudi Arabia, Iran, Pakistan and Morocco, expressed support for the deal on December 30.
- Malaysia: In a statement released on January 2, the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed the South African candidacy. He reiterated his call for an independent Palestinian state “based on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.”
- Turkey: Oncu Keceli, spokesperson for the Turkish Foreign Ministry job on X on January 3, welcoming South Africa’s decision.
- Jordan: Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said on January 4 that Amman would support South Africa.
- Bolivia: On Sunday, Bolivia’s Foreign Ministry called South Africa’s decision historic, becoming the first Latin American country to support the ICJ case against Israel.
- Besides countries, many advocacy groups and civil society groups around the world have also joined South Africa’s call. These include Terreiro Pindorama in Brazil, the Asociacion Nacional de Amistad Italia-Cuba in Italy and the Collectif Judeo Arabe et Citoyen pour la Palestine in France, independent media outlet Common Dreams reported.
Which countries filed the request to the ICC earlier?
Bolivia also highlighted that it had previously filed a request with the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), 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 confused. Both courts are located in The Hague, Netherlands. While the aim 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. Although states cannot be prosecuted before the ICC, the prosecutor can open an investigation where crimes, including genocide, have likely been committed.
Who doesn’t support South Africa’s case before the ICJ?
The United States has expressed its opposition to the genocide case. National security spokesman John Kirby called South Africa’s proposal “baseless, counterproductive and completely without merit” during a White House press briefing on July 3. January.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog told US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday that “there is nothing more atrocious and absurd” than this trial. Herzog also thanked Blinken for Washington’s support for Israel.
Israel’s Western allies, including the European Union, have largely remained silent on the ICJ case.
The United Kingdom, which has refused to support the case, has been accused of double standards after submitting detailed legal documents to the ICJ about a month ago to support allegations that Myanmar had committed a genocide against the Rohingya community.
