South Africa alleges that acts and omissions by Israel in the Gaza Strip are genocidal in character in a 84-page long application.
Hamas’ Ismail Haniyeh hailed an important lawsuit.
“I applaud all the positions of support and especially the state of South Africa, which filed a complaint with the International Court of Justice against the occupying state for its crimes against humanity, ethnic cleansing, and genocide, and we appreciate the political and legal importance of this lawsuit.”
Netanyahu rejects claims accusing Israel of genocide
South Africa asked The Hague-based court to issue an interim order for Israel to immediately suspend its military operations in Gaza. A hearing into that request is likely in the coming days or weeks. The case, if it goes ahead, will take years, but an interim order could be issued within weeks.
The military branch of the Hamas launched the deadliest attack in Israel on October 7. Some 1,200 people mainly civilians were killed, and hundreds abducted.
It led to the latest war in the decades’ long Israeli-Palestinian conflict.