On December 29, 2023, South Africa instituted proceedings against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). They requested the ICJ rule on whether Israel is in violation of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (the Genocide Convention), in relation to the ongoing war in Gaza. Hearings on South Africa’s request for provisional measures were conducted by the ICJ on January 11 and 12, 2024.
Specifically, South Africa appealed for the ICJ to issue orders mandating Israel to put a stop to all alleged violations of the Genocide Convention, effectively enforcing a unilateral ceasefire on Israel. It is expected that these proceedings will be closely watched by the global legal community in the context of international law and its applications.
To further understand the case details, Professor Amichai Cohen, special counsel at Barnea Jafa Lande, has provided his viewpoint on the case in question. His detailed explanation concerning the Genocide Convention and this case against Israel is available in the full article accessible here.