SA makes urgent request to ICJ over Israel military operation in Rafah
The South African Government has urgently appealed to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to assess Israel's recent declaration to expand its military presence in Rafah, which is the last refuge for surviving people in Gaza.
COURTESY: ICJGovernment is urging the ICJ to determine if it should
intervene to prevent any imminent violation of the rights of Palestinians inGaza.
“The South African Government has made an urgent request to
the International Court of Justice to consider whether the decision announced
by Israel to extend its military operations in Rafah, which is the last refuge
for surviving people in Gaza, requires that the court uses its power to prevent
further imminent breach of the rights of Palestinians in Gaza," the Presidency
said in a statement on Tuesday.
“In a request submitted to the court yesterday (12 February
2024), the South African Government said it was gravely concerned that the
unprecedented military offensive against Rafah, as announced by the State of
Israel, has already led to and will result in further large scale killing, harm
and destruction. This would be in serious and irreparable breach both of the
Genocide Convention and of the Court's Order of 26 January 2024. South Africa
trusts this matter will receive the necessary urgency in light of the daily
death toll in Gaza,” the Presidency said.
NEWS: on 12 February 2024, South Africa submitted an “urgent request for additional measures under Article 75 (1)” of the Rules of Court in connection with the “developing circumstances in Rafah” in the case #SouthAfrica v. #Israel before the #ICJ https://t.co/PttnjpfA9t pic.twitter.com/Vup8uIKP0o
— CIJ_ICJ (@CIJ_ICJ) February 13, 2024
In January, the ICJ ordered Israel to, among others, take
all measures within its power “to prevent and punish the direct and public
incitement to commit genocide” and to immediately ensure that Palestinians have
access to basic services and humanitarian assistance.
In a landmark judgment, the ICJ determined that it was
“plausible” that Israel has committed acts that violate the Genocide
Convention.
Done by: Alungile Njemla
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