Israel’s Hearing Begins at the (ICJ)

Sudan Events – Sumaya Sayed

Israel has presented its response to South Africa’s genocide case against it at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

ICJ president says World Court to present its judgement in the coming days.

South Africa, which has brought the case, is asking the UN court to act urgently “to protect against further, severe and irreparable harm to the rights of the Palestinian people under the genocide convention, which continues to be violated with impunity”.

Zane Dangor, director general of South Africa’s Ministry of International Relations, strongly denied the allegation made by Israel’s foreign ministry yesterday that South Africa is “functioning as the legal arm” of Hamas.

Dangor also denied Israeli claims that South African officials praised Hamas following its October 7 attack, saying, “It is something we reject with contempt.”

“South Africa’s legal team represents the people of South Africa,” Dangor said after the ICJ hearing, adding his country is pursuing the genocide case at the ICJ “because we want to stop more harm to Palestinians and it is in the interest of justice.”