The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is set to hold public hearings today and Friday regarding South Africa's request for additional emergency measures against Israel. The request calls for Israel to withdraw from the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza strip. South Africa filed an urgent request last week in its ongoing genocide case against Israel to safeguard Rafah, where over a million Palestinians are seeking refuge amidst the threat of a potential ground offensive.
Last December, South Africa initiated the case against Israel at the ICJ, alleging that Israel was committing genocide in Gaza. In a ruling issued in January, the ICJ directed Israel to 'take all measures' to prevent genocide but refrained from ordering a ceasefire, as requested by South Africa. Israel viewed this decision as a victory, particularly noting the absence of a ceasefire mandate.
This case marks the first instance of Israel being brought before the ICJ on charges of violating the 1948 UN Genocide Convention. The Convention was formulated partly in response to the mass atrocities inflicted on Jewish people during the Holocaust in World War II.
