South Africa filed new evidence with the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on Monday. The evidence supports its claims that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza.
President Cyril Ramaphosa stated that Israel has violated the genocide convention. He accused Israel of promoting the destruction of Palestinians through various means.
Ramaphosa detailed how Israel physically kills Palestinians with destructive weapons. He also mentioned Israel’s blockade that deprives them of humanitarian assistance.
The evidence indicates that Israel’s actions aim at the physical destruction of the Palestinian population. Furthermore, it highlights Israel’s defiance of previous provisional measures ordered by the ICJ.
“Israel is using starvation as a weapon of war,” Ramaphosa stated. He asserted that this strategy aims to depopulate Gaza through mass death and forced displacement.
The new filing consists of over 750 pages of evidence. It includes supporting documents totaling more than 4,000 pages, although much of it may remain confidential.
This legal action coincides with Israel’s intensified attacks on civilians in Gaza. Ramaphosa noted that Israel appears ready to extend its violence into Lebanon.
Israel is expected to respond to South Africa’s new evidence by July 28, 2025. The genocide case against Israel was initially filed at the ICJ in late 2023.
Numerous countries, including Türkiye and Nicaragua, have joined the case at the ICJ. The court began public hearings in January of this year.
In May, the ICJ ordered Israel to cease its offensive in Rafah, Gaza. This marked the third time the court demanded an end to the violence in the region.
Ramaphosa urged the international community to intervene in the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. He stressed that Israel’s actions demonstrate a clear intent to commit genocide against the Palestinian people.