The Republic of South Africa filed a lawsuit against Israel before the International Court of Justice, on charges of practicing genocide against the people of Palestine, and asked the court to take interim measures.
A statement issued by the International Court stated that South Africa today submitted a request to file a lawsuit against Israel before the International Court of Justice, the main judicial body of the United Nations, regarding Israel’s violations of its obligations and its commission of the crime of genocide against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.

It considered that Israel’s conduct – through state agencies, state agents and other persons and entities acting on its instructions or under its direction, control or influence with respect to the Palestinians in Gaza, constitutes a violation of its obligations under the Genocide Convention. “Israel has engaged and is participating in genocide” against the Palestinian people in Gaza.

The request also includes a reference to interim measures, pursuant to Article 41 of the Statute of the Court and Articles 73, 74 and 75 of the Rules of Court. The plaintiff asks the court to indicate interim measures to “protect against further, severe and irreparable harm to the rights of the Palestinian people under the Genocide Convention” and “to ensure that Israel complies with its obligations under the Genocide Convention not to engage in any acts of genocide.”