South Africa's application to the International Court of Justice regarding Gaza

Israel committed a grave crime against all of humanity during the Gaza War, undoubtedly constituting genocide. Israel not only committed crimes in Gaza and throughout Palestine but also caused significant destruction. There was not a stone left standing in Gaza. In the West Bank, Palestinians' homes are systematically demolished. This signifies the implementation of a comprehensive policy. Israel is making all Palestinians propertyless, aligning itself as an extension of Western European and, especially, Anglo-Saxon colonialism. Despite all this, Israel did not achieve its declared goals after October 7 and suffered a significant loss of reputation, leading Israeli leaders to a state of "insanity." Statements made by Israeli representatives after October 7 are indicators of this state of "insanity."

The brutality displayed by Israel in Gaza and across Palestine has provoked global outrage. This brutality is exhibited almost worldwide, with only former colonial powers such as the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany, France, and the Netherlands openly supporting Israel's brutality. This cannot be interpreted as Europe's debt to the Jews. The reason for the reaction against European and Israeli support in the non-European world should be sought in this support. The connection lies in the legacy of colonial history. In this context, the increasing anger toward Europe and Israel, especially in former colonial countries, is crucial. It is essential not to let the anger remain mere rhetoric. One of the countries actively supporting Palestine is South Africa. South Africa has taken Israel's crimes to the International Court of Justice.

Why South Africa?

As known, a system similar to what Israel applied in Palestine was implemented in South Africa. The system was based on the superiority of European nations living as a minority and was built on racial segregation. I deliberately avoided using the term "white minority." The system, organized according to the privileges of European nations living as a minority, was the work of the British. It is crucial to emphasize individuals such as Cecil Rhodes who represent the infamous history of Britain to younger generations. However, the support of South Africa for Palestinians can be better understood with this information.

The colonial administration under Marshal Jan Smuts was one of the first governments to recognize Israel. Moreover, Jan Smuts was personally friends with Chaim Weizmann, a leading representative of the Zionist ideology. The majority of the approximately 120,000-strong Jewish community living in South Africa in the 1960s adhered to the Zionist ideology. According to sources, most of them provided regular financial support to the Zionist movement in the years following the Balfour Declaration. This financial support continued without interruption even after the establishment of Israel. After the mid-1970s, Israel maintained its ties with the South African apartheid regime. As the apartheid regime isolated itself, Israel developed its relations with the South African colonial administration because the apartheid regime, like Israel, was built on a colonial system.

The relationship between Israel and the South African apartheid regime is instructive, but we have to come to the present day. Today, South Africa's report on Israel's genocide crimes is on the agenda. According to The Guardian, the report, "an 80-page, tightly argued claim, replete with detailed references to top UN officials and reports, and rarely deviating from the task of proving Israel's genocidal intent," is being discussed. Patrick Wintour states that the report submitted to the International Court of Justice is well-prepared, and many countries are releasing statements supporting South Africa with different legal teams. Israel, unable to remain indifferent, announced that it would set aside its policy of boycotting the UN's top court and its 15 elected judges and defend itself in court. Turkey supports South Africa's initiative.

When criticism of orientalist ideology resonated worldwide, Ernest Gellner accused Edward Said of failing to confront the "moral-historical reckoning of the problems in the world's transformation." Gellner explicitly said, "Look for the fault in yourself." Now a major crime is being brought before the International Court of Justice. So, whose crime is it? Who is responsible for the "moral-historical reckoning" of the crimes committed against humanity in Gaza today?