UN human rights experts welcome start of genocide case against Israel at ICJ

The UN human rights experts on Thursday welcomed the start of the genocide case against Israel that was brought by South Africa before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague.

Any decision the ICJ reaches on provisional measures must be respected and implemented by the parties to the dispute, stressed the experts in a statement.

They went on saying: “ICJ decisions are final, binding, and not subject to appeal. Adherence to any order the Court may make by the parties involved is imperative for protecting the rights of Palestinians and reinforcing the primacy of international law.”

Commending South Africa for bringing the case to the ICJ “at a time when the rights of Palestinians in Gaza are being violated with impunity,” the experts called all states to cooperate with the court.

The experts also welcomed the statements of support by many states for South Africa's action in bringing the case to the court, as well as the principled stand taken by individuals and organizations in the world that have expressed support for the case by South Africa.

Public hearings in the genocide case against Israel began on Thursday at the ICJ in The Hague, the Netherlands.

On the first day of the trial, South Africa presented hard evidence in the case it filed on Dec. 29, accusing Israel of genocide and violation of the 1948 UN Genocide Convention with its actions in the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7.

The South African side is requesting an injunction by the top UN court to halt Israel's military assault on Gaza, which has dragged on for more than three months, with the death toll rising to over 23,300.

The 84-page filing by South Africa accuses Israel of acts and omissions "genocidal in character, as they are committed with the requisite specific intent ... to destroy Palestinians in Gaza as a part of the broader Palestinian national, racial and ethnical group."

It said Israel's genocidal acts include the killing of Palestinians, causing them serious bodily and mental harm, mass expulsion from homes and displacement, imposing measures intended to prevent Palestinian births, and deprivation of access to adequate food, water, shelter, sanitation, and medical assistance.

Thursday's hearing will be followed by Israel's arguments in its defense the next day.