AMSTERDAM, May 10 – South Africa has petitioned the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to compel Israel to retreat from Rafah, marking a new chapter in the ongoing legal battle over the conflict in Gaza, as confirmed by the U.N.’s highest judicial body on Friday.
The case, initiated by South Africa, accuses Israel of perpetrating acts of genocide against Palestinians. In January, the World Court issued an interim order directing Israel to abstain from any actions that might breach the Genocide Convention and to ensure its military refrains from genocidal acts against Palestinians. Israel, however, has yet to respond to requests for comment, reiterating its stance of adhering to international law in Gaza. It has denounced South Africa’s allegations of genocide as unfounded, labeling Pretoria as “the legal arm of Hamas.”
In newly disclosed legal submissions, South Africa seeks urgent intervention in light of the ongoing military operations in Rafah, which it deems as the “last sanctuary” for Palestinians in Gaza. The petition implores the court to mandate Israel to cease its offensive in Rafah and permit unobstructed entry to Gaza for U.N. officials, humanitarian organizations, journalists, and investigators.
According to South Africa, Israel’s military campaign is resulting in casualties among Gaza’s Palestinian population while concurrently blocking humanitarian aid from reaching them, exacerbating their plight. The filing asserts that immediate court intervention is essential to safeguard the survival of those who have managed to endure thus far.
Health authorities in Hamas-governed Gaza report a death toll of nearly 35,000 due to the conflict, with Israeli tallies indicating approximately 1,200 casualties in Israel and 253 individuals taken hostage following Hamas’s initiation of hostilities on October 7.
