South Africa has called on the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to compel Israel to halt its assault on Rafah, alleging genocide against Palestinians, Al Jazeera reported on Thursday. The plea is part of South Africa’s ongoing case, initiated in January, accusing Israel of war crimes in Gaza.
During Thursday’s proceedings, South African representatives sought emergency measures in response to the offensive on Rafah, a city in southern Gaza where over one million displaced Palestinians have sought refuge from Israeli attacks across the enclave. The South African legal team argued that the Palestinian population faces “ongoing annihilation” and described the assault on Rafah as “part of the endgame in which Gaza is utterly destroyed.”
Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, a South African lawyer, emphasized that Israel’s continued operations in Rafah come despite “explicit warnings” of potential “genocidal” consequences. Israel, however, dismisses South Africa’s allegations of violating the 1949 Genocide Convention, and its response is anticipated on Friday, according to Al Jazeera.
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, just before the hearings began, reaffirmed the continuation of operations in Rafah, stating that additional forces would enter the area despite widespread international criticism.
Rafah, an overcrowded city, is currently home to hundreds of thousands of Palestinians living in tents and suffering from a rapid spread of diseases, severe food shortages, and a lack of clean water. The city’s only hospital has closed, leaving a small, overwhelmed facility to cope with the crisis, Al Jazeera reported.
Previously, ICJ judges issued provisional measures mandating Israel to alleviate humanitarian suffering in Gaza, including ensuring timely delivery of basic food supplies. The ongoing total siege has led to severe hunger and famine conditions among the Palestinian population.
The situation worsened this month when the Israeli army seized and closed the Palestinian side of the Rafah border crossing with Egypt, a crucial conduit for humanitarian aid. Aid agencies have warned that this closure has severely impeded their efforts.
In a written submission to the court, South Africa underscored Rafah’s pivotal role in Gaza’s humanitarian operations, warning, “if Rafah falls, so too does Gaza.” Lawyer Adila Hassim stated, “The thwarting of humanitarian aid cannot be seen as anything but the deliberate snuffing-out of Palestinian lives, leading to starvation and famine.”
The ICJ’s decision on South Africa’s urgent appeal is awaited as the humanitarian crisis in Rafah deepens.
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