ICJ is set to hear South Africa's genocide case against Israel

A protester holding a Palestinian flag outside the International Court of Justice (ICJ)

The International Court of Justice is about to begin South Africa's genocide case against Israel.

Proceedings are anticipated to begin soon, with South Africa's justice minister, Ronald Lamona, delivering the opening comments. Several countries have praised the action, which comes amid a global call for a cease-fire in Gaza.

The top UN court has opened hearings on South Africa's allegations

On Thursday, judges filed gravely into the International Court of Justice to hear two days of legal arguments in a lawsuit filed by South Africa alleging Israel of genocide during the Gaza conflict. Israel denies the claim.

South African lawyers will ask judges during Thursday's proceedings to impose binding preliminary directives on Israel, including an immediate halt to Israel's military campaign in Gaza.

ICJ's genocide case against Israel is welcomed by South Africans

Many South Africans have hailed South Africa's decision to bring genocide claims against Israel to the International Court of Justice.

Many people have gathered outside the Palestinian embassy in Pretoria to watch the events.Given South Africa's history of apartheid, colonialism, and racism, many South Africans strongly identify with the oppression of one ethnic group.

South Africa's government claims that Israel, as an occupier of territory and people, is obligated to follow UN treaties and avoid genocide, including what it refers to as "collective punishment".

‘Compelling argument that genocide is being committed in Gaza’

South Africa's Minister of Justice, Ronald Lamola, told Al Jazeera that the government has filed the matter to the ICJ because "there is a compelling argument that genocide is being committed in Gaza".

"There is a compelling argument that genocide is being committed in Gaza on the basis that there is an annihilation or cleansing of a civilian population, innocent civilians, children and women that have been displaced [and] the targeting of public infrastructure in Gaza," Lamola said in a statement.

He added that statements made by Israeli politicians and military personnel revealed that they "aimed to annihilate the entire population of Palestine from the Gaza Strip".

"Unauthorized" individuals board a ship in the Gulf of Oman

A ship in the Gulf of Oman has been boarded by "unauthorised" persons, according to a British military advisory body.

Details concerning the incident remained unknown. The British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), which warns sailors in the Middle East, claimed the incident occurred in waters between Oman and Iran.

The store owner transforms it into a temporary medical facility

Zaki Shaheen, a former Gaza health ministry employee, has converted his shop into a temporary medical clinic to assist the injured and unwell in Rafah, the country's southern border city.

Rafah has been invaded by hundreds of thousands of displaced individuals escaping fighting farther north. Shaheen stated that he has "my whole life" worked in emergency treatment.
 
"So we decided to open a medical department and got help from the health ministry," he added, adding that the purpose is to relieve pressure on already overburdened institutions.

"We receive no less than 30 or 40 cases per day, morning and night. I'll be asleep when someone comes in with an injury or a burn, and we treat them".

Palestine Red Crescent points out victim of ambulance attack

Fouad Khamash, 28, was one of the Palestine Red Crescent Society members murdered in an Israeli attack on an ambulance.Khamash, a volunteer photographer, "bravely risked his life to highlight the challenges faced by humanitarian workers in Gaza," the statement read.Khamash was one of four ambulance crew members murdered in the attack on Wednesday at the entrance to Deir el-Balah, central Gaza. According to the report, Israeli forces "intentionally targeted" the car.

The killings brought the total number of PRCS medics slain to 11 since October 7, according to organization spokesperson Nebal Farsakh.

Source: The Peninsula