South Africa has submitted evidence to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) accusing Israel of committing genocide in the Gaza Strip, the office of President Cyril Ramaphosa announced on Monday.
The document, described as a “memorial,” reportedly contains more than 750 pages of text and over 4,000 pages of supporting exhibits and annexes. It aims to show that Israel has violated the 1948 United Nations Genocide Convention by promoting the destruction of Palestinians living in Gaza.
“The evidence will show that undergirding Israel’s genocidal acts is the special intent to commit genocide, a failure by Israel to prevent incitement to genocide, to prevent genocide itself, and its failure to punish those inciting and committing acts of genocide,” the presidency stated.
An ICJ official confirmed receipt of the document but declined to provide further details.
South Africa initially brought the case to the ICJ in December 2023, arguing that Israel’s military actions in Gaza breach the Genocide Convention. Israel has strongly denied the allegations. Several countries, including Spain, Bolivia, Colombia, Mexico, Turkey, Chile, and Libya, have expressed support for South Africa’s proceedings.
According to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, Israel’s campaign has killed at least 43,020 Palestinians, mostly civilians. The offensive followed Hamas’s attack on Israel on 7 October 2023, which resulted in 1,206 deaths in Israel, primarily civilians. Of the 251 hostages taken by Hamas during the attack, 97 remain in Gaza, including 34 confirmed dead by Israeli authorities.
While ICJ rulings are legally binding, the court lacks direct means to enforce its decisions.
Medics in Gaza were seen evacuating injured civilians and cancer patients from Kamal Adwan Hospital in Beit Lahia to al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City on Monday as part of a joint initiative by the World Health Organization and the Palestinian Red Crescent.
