South Africa files a lawsuit in the UN, accusing Israel of committing genocide
Israel will ask other countries to oppose South Africa's lawsuit at the UN
The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs has instructed embassies to put pressure on diplomats and politicians in host countries to obtain statements against South Africa's case at the International Court of Justice.
Source. This is stated in a statement by the Ministry, The Moscow Times reports.
South Africa filed a lawsuit in the UN court last week. In the document, it claims that Israel's military campaign in Gaza violates its obligations under the 1948 Genocide Convention.
The document defines genocide as "acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group".
South Africa argues that Israel's actions in Gaza are genocidal in nature, as they are aimed at destroying a significant part of the Palestinian population in the enclave.
Israel rejects the claim and calls it "baseless." At the same time, the country's authorities decided to send their representatives to the court, as Israel is a party to the Genocide Convention.
"The court's decision may have significant potential consequences not only in the legal sphere, but also in bilateral, multilateral, economic, security relations," Axios quoted the text of the ministry's statement as saying.
The document states that, according to the 1948 Convention, genocide is defined as the creation of conditions that do not allow the survival of a population with the intent to destroy it. The authors of the statement point to Israel's efforts to increase humanitarian aid to the population in Gaza and reduce the number of civilians killed, "acting in self-defense after the horrific attack on October 7 by a genocidal terrorist organization."
Israel's ambassadors were instructed to work urgently to inform world governments before the hearings begin on January 11. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will send letters to dozens of world leaders.
The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden has already rejected South Africa's claim.
"We believe this lawsuit is baseless, counterproductive, and has no basis in fact," said John Kirby, a spokesman for the White House National Security Council, on Wednesday.
But countries that support the Palestinians, including Turkey and Jordan, supported the lawsuit.
It is noted that the decisions of the International Court of Justice are binding and difficult to enforce. Russia rejected the court's order last year to stop its invasion of Ukraine.
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