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Paris- Today, Thursday, the world is watching the first hearings in the case brought by South Africa against Israel in international justice Courtin which she is accused of committing crimes Genocide in Gaza strip.
In conjunction with what is described as a “historic precedent” and the first step in a long process in the event that the case goes forward, Israel is making every effort through tricks and diplomatic maneuvers through which it tries to get out of the dilemma of the heavy accusations before the Supreme Judicial Authority in United nations.
In this context, and given the seriousness of the file submitted by South Africa, the Israeli occupation chose to defend itself “personally,” in a clear indication of the seriousness of the indictment directed against it and its consequences, as well as its reputation before the countries of the world.
Pressure
Axios published a cable detailing the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ plans to direct its embassies to pressure diplomats and politicians in their host countries to publicly express their opposition to South Africa’s case in the International Court.
The instructions in the Israeli diplomatic action plan include exerting international pressure to protect it from the court issuing a judicial order against its interests, as a hearing is scheduled for tomorrow, Friday, in The Hague, dedicated to Israel.
Israel hopes that the Court of Justice will reject the injunction, so as not to prove that it is actually committing genocide against the Palestinian people, and in return to recognize that the occupation army operates in accordance with international law.
The State Department cable noted that Tel Aviv’s “efforts to increase humanitarian assistance to the population of Gaza and reduce harm to civilians” aim to refute the convention’s definition, which defines genocide as “the creation of conditions that do not permit the survival of a population, with the intent to exterminate them.”
The Ministry also informed the Israeli ambassadors that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu He will send messages to dozens of world leaders in the same vein, including his first ally, the United States.
Weak points of the occupation
In turn, the director of the Middle East and North Africa department at the AFDI human rights organization, lawyer Abdel Majeed Marari, described South Africa’s plea as “strong,” considering at the same time that the tricks, evasions, or diplomatic pressures adopted by Israel will not work and will not achieve its goal of destabilizing the situation. Convictions of the judicial team within the Court of Justice.
Marari confirmed in an exclusive interview with Al Jazeera Net that “the judiciary forms its conviction and legal opinion based on the valuable pleadings and evidence in its hands.”
For his part, international human rights lawyer Francis Boyle – who won two applications at the International Court of Justice – considered that “Israel is well aware that its position is weak and its legal arguments are fragile, so it will not be able to win the case.”
The American lawyer explained in his speech to Al Jazeera Net that “Israel will rely during the session on the argument of self-defense, which is something that the International Court had previously rejected,” pointing out that all the peoples of Arab countries must put pressure on their governments to support South Africa’s file.
In its 84-page report, South Africa asserts that the Israeli military campaign in Gaza violates its obligations under the 1948 Genocide Convention, which defines genocide as “acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnical, racial or religious group.”
America is on the Israeli side
In turn, the US Secretary of State refused Anthony Blinken Pretoria report, describing its content as “baseless allegations” because its purpose is “to divert attention from efforts to improve the humanitarian situation in Gaza,” he said.
Blinken made this statement in a press conference after talks he held with Israeli leaders in Tel Aviv the day before yesterday, Tuesday, as part of a visit that included several countries in the Middle East, amid renewed calls for a ceasefire as the Israeli aggression on Gaza enters its fourth month.
For his part, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said in statements last week that the lawsuit is “useless and counterproductive.”
Director of the Middle East and North Africa Department at AFDI, Abdul Majeed Marari, believes that the United States’ skepticism about the Court of Justice is linked to its fear of the decision it will issue regarding the case, especially since Article 3 of the Convention Criminalizing Genocide stipulates that “whoever participates in the crime of genocide It is considered a perpetrator,” which means that any condemnation of the Israeli occupation may be considered an indirect condemnation of Washington.
Therefore, Marari believes that the United States “is not in a position to judge such measures before international judiciary, because it has become a threat to international peace and security with its positions supporting genocide and ethnic cleansing.”
On the other hand, Britain received its share of criticism because of its refusal to support the lawsuit against Israel, and it was accused of double standards after submitting documents to the Court of Justice about a month ago to support Myanmar committing genocide against Rohingya.
It is noteworthy that the British Foreign Minister David Cameron He did not accept South Africa’s claims while speaking during his first questioning by MPs in the Foreign Affairs Committee on Tuesday, as he faced questions about whether Israel’s military blockade of the Gaza Strip violates international humanitarian law.
Other countries join South Africa
While countries friendly and supportive of Israel cast doubt on South Africa’s claim, a group of countries and human rights organizations supporting the Palestinian cause welcomed this step before the International Court of Justice.
In a statement issued in early January, the Malaysian Ministry of Foreign Affairs affirmed its call for the necessity of establishing an independent Palestinian state on the pre-1967 borders, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Al-Safadi said that Amman will support South Africa in the lawsuit it filed against Israel, pointing out that his country will continue to do what is necessary to stop the aggression against the Gaza Strip.
Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesman Oncu Kesili also expressed in a tweet on his account on the “X” platform that Ankara welcomed the request submitted by Pretoria.
In a statement published by its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Bolivia – which is considered the first country in Latin America to support the case against Israel – announced its joining the list of supporters, and affirmed its appreciation for this “historic action” and its commitment to peace and justice.
The South African government said on Tuesday that former British opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn joined its delegation to attend the court hearings.
In this regard, Lawyer Marari praised what he described as “moral support” for the lawsuit and for the Palestinian people, stressing at the same time that the most important matter today – on the material level – is the strength of the pleading and documented evidence before the judiciary to strengthen the file, as well as forming or reshaping Judge’s conviction.
