The application accused Israel of “continuing violations of the Genocide Convention.”
Hague:
South Africa on Friday requested new emergency measures from the International Court of Justice against Israel over its latest offensive against the Gaza city of Rafah, the court said in a statement.
It is the third time since making the first request in December that South Africa has requested extra action against Israel during the Gaza war.
Israel has condemned South Africa’s claims that it launched a “genocide” against Palestinian territory.
South Africa’s application states that Israel’s operation against Rafah poses an “extreme risk” to “the humanitarian supply and basic services to Gaza, to the survival of the Palestinian medical system and to the very survival of Palestinians in Gaza as a group,” the UN court said. said in a statement.
The application accused Israel of “continuing violations of the Genocide Convention.”
South Africa said Israel has “flouted” international law and called on the court to order Israel to “immediately withdraw and cease its military offensive” in Rafah.
He also demanded an order that Israel grant “unimpeded access” to Gaza to the United Nations and other groups providing humanitarian aid.
Israel launched its war against Hamas after the Palestinian militants carried out their unprecedented cross-border attacks on October 7, resulting in the deaths of more than 1,170 people, most of them civilians, according to an AFP tally of official figures. Israelites.
The militants also captured hostages, of whom Israel estimates 128 remain in Gaza, including 36 the military says are dead.
Israel’s violent retaliatory offensive left almost 35,000 dead, mainly women and children, according to the Ministry of Health in territory controlled by Hamas.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Rafah offensive was necessary to complete the defeat of Hamas.
Rafah is filled with hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians living in appalling conditions and there have been warnings that an Israeli ground offensive would trigger a humanitarian catastrophe for civilians.
In January, the ICJ called on Israel to prevent acts of genocide following the original South African call for international action.
The court rejected a second South African request for emergency measures due to Israel’s threat to attack Rafah. South Africa made a new request in early March.
The UN court resolves disputes between states. Its orders are binding, but there is no enforcement mechanism. The court has already ordered Russia to suspend the war against Ukraine.
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