The South African government had on Tuesday asked the World Court to appraise whether Israel’s plan to extend its offensive in Gaza, into Rafah city requires extra emergency measures to safeguard Palestinians’ rights.
Recalll that the International Court of Justice (ICJ) had in January 2024, directed Isreal to take all measures within its power to bar its troops from committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, in a case that was brought forward by South Africa.
Israel has since denied all claims of genocide in connection with its war against Gaza’s ruling Palestinian Islamist group Hamas and had asked the court to dismiss the case outrightly because it respects international law and had a right to defend itself.
Israel has revealed that it has plans to widen its ground attack into Rafah, where more than 1 million Palestinians have been seeking refuge from the offensive that has laid waste to majority of the Gaza Strip since Hamas militants attacked Israel on October 7, 2023.
A statement issued by South Africa’s presidency had read:
“In a request handed to the court yesterday (February 12), the South African government said it was very concerned that the unprecedented military offensive against Rafah, as announced by the State of Israel, has already led to and will result in more large-scale killing, harm and devastation.
“This would be in grievous and irreparable breach both of the Genocide Convention and of the Court’s Order of January 26.”
The Hague-based ICJ has refused to comment on whether it had received the request or not.
Meanwhile, the court has yet to rule on the crux of the case brought by South Africa —whether genocide has occurred in Gaza— but it did recognise the right of Palestinians in Gaza to be protected from acts of genocide.
