Israel Accused of Genocide by South Africa at International Court
South Africa just levied absurd charges of genocide against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). When will the international community stop falsely accusing Israel of committing war crimes?
AP News reports on this reprehensible appearance at the United Nation’s highest court:
In a case that strikes at the heart of Israel’s national identity, South Africa formally accused the country of committing genocide against Palestinians and pleaded Thursday with the United Nations’ top court to order an immediate halt to Israeli military operations in Gaza.
Israel, which was founded in the aftermath of the Holocaust, has vehemently denied the allegations. As a sign of how seriously they regard the case, Israeli leaders have taken the rare step of engaging with the court to defend their international reputation. Israel often boycotts international tribunals or U.N. investigations, saying they are unfair and biased.
A full trial is underway at the ICJ. South Africa has asked for a provisional order for Israel to immediately halt their military operations to eradicate Hamas. Very hostile language was used to accuse Israel of 75 years of genocide.
South Africa’s Ambassador to the Netherlands, Vismuzi Madonsela, opened with a vehement attack on Israel:
South Africa has recognized the ongoing Nakba of the Palestinian people through Israel’s colonization since 1948, which has systematically and forcibly dispossessed, displaced, and fragmented the Palestinian people, deliberately denying them their internationally recognized inalienable right to self-determination and their internationally recognized right of return as refugees to their towns and villages in what is now the state of Israel.
In referencing the “Nakba” (Great Catastrophe, i.e., the establishment of the Jewish State) from the outset, South Africa made its chief goal quite clear: the nonexistence of Israel. At the end of the day, South Africa is no different from Hamas and the other jihadist enemies of Israel – its arguments are akin to the battle cry “from the river to the sea” that seeks to wipe Israel off the map.
The ACLJ will not stand idly by while such dangerous accusations are levied against our ally. We sent a legal brief to the U.N. Secretary-General, the U.N. Commission of Inquiry, and several countries in response to South Africa’s absurd accusations. We take such attacks against Israel very seriously and will never stop advocating for Israel.
Our arguments make it clear that Hamas was the instigator of the worst single-day attack on Israel since the Holocaust. Because of Hamas’ evil attack, 1,400 Israelis died and more than 200 men, women, and children were taken hostage (the ACLJ’s international efforts representing the Israeli hostages continue). What South Africa labels “genocide” is nothing more than Israel rightly defending itself against war crimes.
We also explain that Israel isn’t targeting civilians, raping women, or taking hostages – Hamas terrorists are. Further, Israel is even sending medical supplies into Gaza to help suffering civilians. To argue that Israel is deliberately killing Gaza civilians because of their national, ethnic, or religious identity – an important element under the Genocide Convention – is not only untrue but also antisemitic nonsense.
The trial at the ICJ will continue tomorrow. We will keep a close eye on the proceedings and do our part in advocating for Israel’s right to defend itself against baseless claims of genocide.
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Today’s Sekulow broadcast provided a full analysis of South Africa’s vile claims of genocide against Israel. We explained how the ACLJ is advocating on Israel’s behalf. Both Senior Counsel for International and Government Affairs Jeff Ballabon and ACLJ Senior Counsel for Global Affairs Mike Pompeo also reacted to Israel’s legal fight on the world stage.
Watch the full broadcast below: