South Africa Accuses Israel Of 'Chilling' Genocide Intent

South Africa has accused Israel of "chilling" and "incontrovertible" intent to commit genocide in Gaza, on the opening day of a landmark case before the UN's top court at The Hague.

- TOM WATLING

Calling on the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to order Israel to cease military operations in Gaza, lawyers for South Africa said that Israel has gone beyond its intention to eradicate Hamas and is aiming to bring about the “the destruction” of the besieged territory’s population. Israel was accused of breaching the UN Genocide Convention, with lawyers saying that even the 7 October attack by Hamas into Israel – during which around 1,200 people were killed and another 240 taken hostage – could not justify such actions.

South Africa’s justice minister, Ronald Lamola, opened yesterday’s session claiming that Israel has “crossed the line” with its bombardment of Gaza, with health officials in the Hamas-run territory putting the death toll at more than 23,000 people. “The intent to destroy Gaza has been nurtured at the highest level of state,” Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, advocate of the High Court of South Africa, told the court. “The evidence of genocidal intent is not only chilling, it is also overwhelming and incontrovertible,” Mr Ngcukaitobi said.