ICJ: South Africa rejects Israel's arguments on Gaza genocide

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The International Court of Justice (ICJ) held a third round of hearings Friday on emergency measures requested by South Africa regarding the conflict between Israel and Gaza.

The ceasefire request comes as Israel defends its military operation, saying it is not aimed at causing harm to civilians, unlike Hamas.

Israel told the ICJ that South Africa's request "makes a mockery of the heinous accusation of genocide." However, South African representatives criticized the lack of engagement on the facts during the hearings, saying their arguments were not satisfactorily rebutted.

South Africa has called for a halt to Israeli military operations in Gaza, calling the situation in the besieged enclave "new and horrific" . The judges of the ICJ are called upon to take into account the serious humanitarian consequences of this conflict and to order a ceasefire to protect civilians.

Despite Israel's defense that it has taken steps to manage the complexity of the situation, South African lawyers insist on the need to end hostilities that threaten the survival of Palestinians in Gaza. They also recall that the ICJ has already highlighted the imminent risk for the Palestinian population in this region.

The Israeli delegation, although small, pleaded its case before the ICJ, citing logistical reasons to explain the absence of certain members of their team. Yet Israel remains under international pressure to end its military operations in the region.

The ICJ, with the power to order a ceasefire and other measures, is at the heart of this crucial debate on respect for international humanitarian law. The hearings continue in a context where the humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate, putting the lives of thousands of civilians at risk.

The international community eagerly awaits the decisions of the ICJ, in the hope of finding a peaceful solution to this devastating conflict which has already claimed many victims among the civilian population of Gaza.

The war between Israel and Gaza began with a Hamas attack on southern Israel on October 7, provoking an escalation of violence that led to numerous casualties and a massive displacement of the population in Gaza.