South Africa accuses Israel of systematic genocidal acts in Gaza at World Court, demands end to military campaign

South Africa accused Israel of subjecting Palestinians to genocidal acts at the opening of hearings on a case against the Israeli campaign in Gaza

Israel rejected the accusations as baseless and accused Pretoria of playing ‘advocate of the devil’ for Hamas, the militant group Israel is waging war against

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At the UN’s World Court, South Africa is accusing Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. Photo: AP

Published: 8:50pm, 11 Jan 2024Updated: 1:21am, 12 Jan 2024

South Africa accused Israel on Thursday of subjecting Palestinians to genocidal acts at the opening of hearings at the top UN court on a case brought against the devastating Israeli military campaign in Gaza.

In hearings at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), also known as the World Court, South Africa demanded an emergency suspension of Israel’s aerial and ground offensive in the Palestinian enclave, which it said was aimed at bringing about “the destruction of the population” of Gaza.

“Israel has a genocidal intent against the Palestinians in Gaza,” Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, advocate of the High Court of South Africa, told the court.

“That is evident from the way in which this military attack is being conducted,” he said, adding: “The intent to destroy Gaza has been nurtured at the highest level of state.”

The UN’s top court opened hearings on Thursday into South Africa’s allegation that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, a claim that Israel strongly denies. Photo: AP

Israel has rejected the accusations of genocide as baseless and accused Pretoria of playing “advocate of the devil” for Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist militant group Israel is waging war against in Gaza.

Israeli Prime Minister BenjaminNetanyahu said the court had been presented with hypocrisy and lies.