Major actors read the case file of South Africa’s Genocide charges against Israel
- International actors read parts of SA’s application to the ICJ.
- Reuters reported that the deaths of Palestinians stood at least 24 285.
- The UN chief has called for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.
While the South African legal team has returned to the country after their genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), international actors demonstrated their support by reading parts of the application the team presented at the international court.
The team was before the court requesting a ceasefire in the war that has, according to Reuters, claimed the lives of at least 24 285 Palestinians.
South Africa submitted that any military operation intended to “destroy a people”, in whole or in part, violates the Genocide Convention and must cease.
Israel launched its military operation in Gaza after Hamas’ 7 October attack that claimed the lives of 1 200 Israelis.
UN chief Antonio Guterres on Monday repeated calls for a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza “to ensure sufficient aid gets to where it is needed. To facilitate the release of the hostages. To tamp down the flames of wider war”.
The Palestine Festival of Literature posted numerous videos of actors from shows like Game of Thrones and The Originals, to name a few, who recorded themselves reading out South Africa’s 84-page application to the ICJ.
Actors such as Cynthia Nixon, Khalid Abdalla, Steve Coogan, Charles Dance, Lena Headey, Tunde Adebimpe, Stephen Dillane, Maisie Richardson-Sellers, Gbenga Akinnagbe, Adam Bakri, Kathleen Chalfant, Liam Cunningham, among others, lent their voices.
After returning to South Africa at the OR Tambo International Airport, Advocate Tembeka Ngcukaitobi said they were still a long way from seeing the desired outcome.
“This week marked an important episode, but it did not mark the culmination. It marked a very crucial turning point in having the world look at the issue through a legal lens. But, overall, the struggle continues,” Ngcukaitobi said.
Watch the video below :
Israel’s defence argued that South Africa had presented a false picture of Israel’s military invasion of Gaza.
“The applicant tells not only a partial story but a false one. Yes, damage and harm have been caused, but always as a result of Hamas’ method of warfare. The charge of genocide is frankly untenable,” Israeli justice ministry official Galit Rajuan told the court.
Israel said the ICJ did not have the jurisdiction to hear the case and that South Africa’s request for precautionary measures should be dismissed.