At ICJ hearings, South Africa says Israel committing genocide with 'impunity'

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is holding its second day of hearings into the crimes of Israel and its obligation to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Representatives from several countries, including South Africa, Algeria, and Saudi Arabia, addressed the ICJ on Tuesday.

Zane Dangor, director-general of South Africa’s Department of International Relations, launched the proceedings at the ICJ with a strong condemnation of Israel’s actions.

In his opening statement, Dangor said that under the world’s watchful eye, Palestinians are being subjected to atrocity, crimes, persecution, apartheid, and genocide.

“While we watch, the gaze of Palestinians is directed squarely at the international community.”

The South African representative argued that Israel was committing crimes in Gaza and across the occupied territories with complete impunity. 

“We wish to emphasize the impunity with which Israel is inflicting these harms. Israel continues to act with impunity as it does enjoy some form of exceptionalism from accountability to international law and norms.” 

“Any country or entity which seeks to hold Israel accountable for its inhumane and unlawful actions is subject to countermeasures and sanctions from which the UN and this court has not been spared.”

Elsewhere in his remarks, Dangor slammed the Israeli ban on the UN agency for Palestinian refugees and connected recent attacks on UNRWA to broader political aims.

“In this context, the UN and UNRWA is one of the latest casualties of Israel.”

South Africa has been one of the outspoken critics of Israel’s campaign of genocide in Gaza.

The African country, which has experienced long years of an apartheid regime, has been praised by activists as the vanguard of the global conscience and voice of the oppressed.

On Tuesday, the Saudi representative told the court that Israel has turned Gaza into a pile of rubble while attempting to bring about ethnic cleansing.

On the first day of the hearings, Palestine’s ambassador to the Netherlands said Israel has not allowed any food, water, medical supplies, or fuel into Gaza for two months, leading to a man-made humanitarian catastrophe, including deaths by starvation.

Dozens of pro-Palestine activists also demonstrated at The Hague’s Peace Palace during ICJ hearings.

In total, 40 states and four international organizations will speak during the ICJ hearings between April 28 and May 2.

Israel is not attending the proceedings, but it has provided a written submission to the ICJ.

The UN top court has already ordered the Israeli regime to take all measures within its power to prevent genocide in Gaza.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has also issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former minister of military affairs, Yoav Gallant, over war crimes against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.