South Africa jurist tells ICJ ‘Israel’s genocide has reached horrific new stage’ with Rafah op

South Africa’s representatives in the International Court of Justice denounce Israel for what they call its “ongoing genocide” against Palestinians in Gaza in a vitriolic opening salvo against Jerusalem.

South Africa Ambassador to the Netherlands Vusimuzi Madonsela accuses Israel of ignoring previous ICJ orders and instructions from the UN Security Council and says that “Israel’s genocide has continued apace since last court hearing and has just reached a new and horrific stage” in the current operation in the southern Gazan city of Rafah.

Prof. Vaughan Lowe, who represented South Africa in its January application, alleges that it is “increasingly clear” that Israel’s actions in Rafah are designed to achieve its “endgame for Gaza to be utterly destroyed as an area of human habitation.”

Lowe again denies that Israel has a right to self-defense, as he did in January, despite having previously written that “no state is obliged by law passively to suffer the delivery of an attack.”

Lowe tells the court that if it does not intervene now, “the possibility of rebuilding a viable Palestinian society in Gaza will be destroyed” and says that “Israel’s declared aim of wiping Gaza from the map is about to be realized.”