South Africa Presents Its Case Against Genocidal Israel At The International Court of Justice - Blinne Ni Ghralaigh KC

Published: January 11, 2024

Blinne Ni Ghralaigh KC described the situation as a crisis or humanity, and the embodiment of hell. Violence, death, disease, no school, starvation - Gaza is becoming uninhabitable. For children there is nothing but the sound of war, day in, day out. Reports of torture and abuse of bodies more common. 4 out 5 people in the world in catastrophic hunger are in Gaza. The daily stats are clear proof: 247 deaths (including 48 mothers and 117 children, 3 medics, a UN worker, a journalist) Some are wounded over and over. Each day 3 900 homes destroyed, ambulances and hospitals are targeted. Bombs are dropped on places people have been told to evacuate to. There’s a new acronym – WCNSF – which stands for “Wounded Child, No Surviving Family”.

There is imminent and irrevocable evidence of urgency. UN aid remains unimplemented. Humanitarian ceasefire calls have been ignored. Since the case was filed, over a thousand have been killed. Over 85% repeatedly forced to move, into shrinking slivers of land. This is a population that was already vulnerable after 16 years of blockade. Many dying from preventable problems. Children in particular subjected to mental torture, much of which is irreparable..

Many people have no access to food, water, medicine or safe shelter. A trapped population that has nowhere safe to go. In addition services are denied or restricted, even though even the US asked for it to be allowed.

Israel denies it is responsible for the crisis. 500 aid trucks were necessary daily before 7 October. Promises of future aid therefore hold little sway. UN SG has stressed that number of trucks doesn’t matter, because o aid cannot be delivered effectively. Everyone and everything remains at imminent risk if irreparable prejudice.

The international community continues to fail the Palestinian people. The horror being live streamed, as victims broadcast their own destruction in real time. This has repercussions for generations to come. “The world should be ashamed”. Palestinian pastor on Xmas Day “this is a genocide, we will arise…but this is by far the biggest blow we have received”. South Africa is doing what it can, standing up to be counted.

* South Africa Presents Its Case Against Genocidal Israel At The International Court of Justice - Adila Hassim SC

South Africa Presents Its Case Against Genocidal Israel At The International Court of Justice - Ambassador Vusimuzi Madonsela

Published: January 11, 2024

Ambassador Vusimuzi Madonsela thanked the court for hearing the case so quickly. His short introduction then looked back at the history of the Palestinian people, and how they have been denied the ‘right to return’ to their historical territory. He said current acts are a fundamental continuation of 75 years of apartheid, as well as the 16 years of occupation in Gaza.

* South Africa Presents Its Case Against Genocidal Israel At The International Court of Justice - Adila Hassim SC

* South Africa Presents Its Case Against Genocidal Israel At The International Court of Justice - Tembeka Ngcukaitobi SC

* South Africa Presents Its Case Against Genocidal Israel At The International Court of Justice - Blinne Ni Ghralaigh KC

* South Africa Presents Its Case Against Genocidal Israel At The International Court of Justice - SABC News

South Africa Presents Its Case Against Genocidal Israel At The International Court of Justice - Tembeka Ngcukaitobi SC

Tembeka Ngcukaitobi SC laid out the case for genocidal intent. These acts can include other acts that fall outside the genocide definition. It is evident in the way the military attack has been systematically conducted. Also the targeting of family homes, healthcare, and the denying of access to humanitarian aid. Already 1% have been killed.

The extraordinary feature is the systematic declarations by Israel’s political leaders, and these statements are repeated by soldiers on the ground. After the attack, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned of a unprecedented response. There have been repeated references to Amalek, a group whom God instructed to be killed, included children and animals. The deputy speaker of the Knesset called for Gaza to be erased from the earth. Also references to a total blockade of ‘human animals’, a call supported by many parliamentarians. The intent to destroy has been formulated and distributed from the highest levels of state. They also tar all Palestinians with the crimes of Hamas. None of the statements can be neutralized or taken back after the fact. The genocidal intent is not ambiguous to the soldiers on the ground. There is video evidence, filmed by the soldiers themselves.

Israel’s army commanders are of the same mind. One said the entire Gaza should resemble Beit Hanoun, a suburb that has been all but flattened. As recently as 7 January, a soldier boasted about the destruction of an entire village, which he said was their mandate. Genocidal intent is understood, and being put into practice.

The comments are also rife in the Knesset, where there are repeated references for all Palestinians to die. The PM’s speeches havr also gained ground within Israeli society. There has been no effort to prevent, condemn or punish any acts and calls for genocide. Israel knows it is destroying Gaza, but has not changed its military tactics. And it has not let up on the blockade, and continues to ignore calls from aid organization to be allowed into Gaza. Israel continues to target infrastructure essential for survival.

The distinctive feature of this case has not been the silence, but the broadcasting of the desire, the intent and the instructions that feed down to the foot soldiers. The intent is embodied within state bodies. Any suggestion that that is not what they meant should be rejected.

* South Africa Presents Its Case Against Genocidal Israel At The International Court of Justice - Adila Hassim SC

* South Africa Presents Its Case Against Genocidal Israel At The International Court of Justice - Blinne Ni Ghralaigh KC

* South Africa Presents Its Case Against Genocidal Israel At The International Court of Justice - Ambassador Vusimuzi Madonsela

* South Africa Presents Its Case Against Genocidal Israel At The International Court of Justice - SABC News