The case of South Africa v. Israel in the International Court of Justice alleges that Israel is violating international law by committing and failing to prevent acts of genocide “to destroy the Palestinians in Gaza.” This case has produced a confrontation not only in the international court, but also in the court of public opinion.
Israel has condemned these allegations. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in statements Thursday: “We are fighting terrorists, and we are fighting lies.” He added: “Today, once again, we saw a world turned upside down, where the State of Israel is accused of committing genocide while fighting genocide.”
But as preliminary hearings on the case began on Thursday, the South African delegation rejected Israeli accusations of bias. “No matter how brutal or horrific the attack or provocation, genocide is never a permissible response,” said Vaughan Lowe, a member of the South African delegation.
The case hinges on the definition of genocide and whether the judges believe that Israel's actions and plans in the Gaza Strip meet this requirement under international law.
Adil Haq, an expert on wartime ethics and law at Rutgers University, said it “could take years to resolve a case on an objective basis” at the ICJ.
