Egypt’s Al-Azhar Sends Message to ICJ on Israeli Genocide in Gaza
South Africa accused Israel on Thursday of subjecting Palestinians to genocidal acts at the opening of the hearings at the top UN court on a case brought against the devastating Israeli military war on Gaza.
South Africa demanded an emergency suspension of Israel's aerial and ground offensive in the Palestinian enclave, which it said was aimed at bringing about “the destruction of the population” of Gaza.
“Israel has a genocidal intent against the Palestinians in Gaza,” Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, advocate of the High Court of South Africa, told the court, Reuters reported.
“That is evident from the way in which this military attack is being conducted,” he said, adding, “The intent to destroy Gaza has been nurtured at the highest level of state.”
The 1948 Genocide Convention defines genocide as “acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group”.
South Africa points to the Israeli regime’s sustained bombing campaign that has killed over 23,000 people in the small, densely populated Gaza Strip, according to health authorities.
“Every day, there is mounting, irreparable loss of life, property, dignity, and humanity for the Palestinian people,” said Adila Hassim, advocate of South Africa's high court.
“Nothing will stop the suffering, except an order from this court.” South Africa has demanded that the ICJ order Israel to suspend its military campaign.
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In its message to the court, Al-Azhar reminded the judges that after nearly 100 of relentless attacks on Gaza, humanity’s conscience faces a dangerous dilemma.
If the perpetrator of the genocide in the Gaza Strip is not held accountable for this crime, the world might see similar acts of genocide in the future, it said.
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