South Africa files its ‘evidence’ that Israel committing genocide in Gaza with ICJ

South Africa files with the International Court of Justice its full submission, or Memorial, alleging that Israel is committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza during its current military operation against Hamas, and claims that Israel has failed to abide by numerous clauses of the genocide convention and its international obligations.

Although Pretoria has already filed several motions requesting interim measures against Israel with the ICJ — the UN’s top court, which adjudicates disputes between nations — it was obligated to file its comprehensive arguments for a final ruling today.

The South African Department of International Relations & Cooperation says that the 750-page document it filed, together with 4,000 pages of “exhibits and annexes,” provides “evidence” that Israel has violated the genocide convention by “promoting the destruction of Palestinians living in Gaza,” killing them, depriving them of access to humanitarian assistance, and “causing conditions of life which are aimed at their physical destruction.”

It also alleges that Israel has had genocidal intent in its actions in Gaza, a key component of a genocide charge, and has also failed to prevent incitement to genocide, and failed to punish those who have allegedly incited to genocide and committed acts of genocide.

“The international community cannot stand idly by while innocent civilians – including women, children, hospital workers, humanitarian aid workers, and journalists are killed for simply being. That is a world we cannot accept,” the Department of International Relations & Cooperation says, in a statement to the press.

As per court procedures, South Africa’s submission will not be made public.

Israel has strongly denied that it has committed any genocidal acts against Palestinians in Gaza, asserting in oral hearings and written submissions to the ICJ that statements by Israeli elected officials cited by South Africa as evidence of genocidal intent were either taken out of context, mendaciously interpreted, or not reflective of government policy.

Jerusalem argued in court that civilian deaths were not deliberate and that they were largely caused by Hamas’s tactic of embedding its military personnel and infrastructure throughout the civilian infrastructure of Gaza, including in hospitals, mosques, schools, civilian homes, UN facilities, and in its vast tunnel network running under Gazan cities.

Israel’s legal team has also pointed to the large amounts of aid whose entry into Gaza that Israel has facilitated into the territory, as evidence that it has sought to ensure Gazan civilians’ access to necessary food and humanitarian supplies.

Israel launched the war in Gaza after the October 7 Hamas assault on southern Israel that killed some 1,200 people and took 251 hostages.

Israel has until July 2025 to file its response. The Foreign Affairs Ministry does not immediately respond to a request for comment on South Africa’s submission.