South Africa has supplemented its original genocide claim regarding the Gaza war with an additional request for emergency measures.
The UN’s main legal body, the International Court of Justice (ICJ), will weigh Israel’s actions in Rafah in its two-day session starting today.
South Africa has supplemented its original genocide claim over the Gaza war with an additional request for emergency action, asking the UN seat to order Israel to halt its attack on Rafah.
The UN and several countries have warned that a full-scale attack by Israel could have catastrophic consequences for the Gazans who sought refuge in Rafah, many of whom are already living in very difficult conditions.
– By striking Rafah, Israel is striking the last refuge in the Gaza Strip. It is the last area in the strip that Israel has not yet completely destroyed, South Africa’s request states.
In its additional request, South Africa also demands the right to ensure that Israel takes all necessary steps to get humanitarian aid to Gaza. However, the ICJ has already ordered Israel in March to ensure the entry of urgent humanitarian aid to Gaza, where, according to the court, the famine had already begun at that time.
Israel has assured that it will monitor the situation in the region and comply with its international legal obligations.
The main solution takes a long time
The ICJ is scheduled to hear South Africa’s position on the matter on Thursday. Israel’s views will be heard on Friday. The court is then expected to rule on the emergency measures regarding Rafah presented by South Africa. It will take years for the court to form a view on South Africa’s ultimate issue, which is whether Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.
ICJ decisions are binding on states and cannot be appealed. However, the court has little means of enforcing its decisions.