South Africa has invoked the Genocide Convention against Israel over Gaza

[HeidiInTheBigCity]

The entire filing is 84 pages long and, frankly, took me several hours to read - it's well worth the effort, though, in that it is rather (painfully at times) clinical and devastating in equal measure: https://www.icj-cij.org/sites/default/files/case-related/192/192-20231228-app-01-00-en.pdf

Go, South Africa!

It might not male that much of a difference in the short term - but: to see the former victims of Apartheid take the lead on the world stage, and offer support (the way they - after multiple decades of campaigning and pressure ... it's not as though world leaders hated Apartheid South Africa "by default") is just ... a little spark of light within the darkness!

Imagine if a regular person was to publicly suggest the total elimination of a group of 100,000 civilians. What does the law in Israel say about hate speech? I suppose that given such far right influence it only applies when it isn’t directed at ‘out’ groups. What a sad and short sighted way to retain internal power and cohesion.

Where to watch the hearing on the genocide against Israel at the International Court of Justice This Thursday, January 11, the International Court of Justice will hear accusations of genocide against Israel. It will be broadcast live on United Nations Television

https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k11/k11gf661b3

@Desertrose2023 and you will except the verdict of the court which ever way it goes?

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/jan/10/israel-palestinians-genocide-south-africa-apartheid

Interesting article from the Guardian with regards to the thread.

www.thejournal.ie/varadkar-uncomfortable-about-accusing-israel-of-genocide-given-past-treatment-of-jews-6268066-Jan2024/

Interesting from the Irish Taoiseach.

from the tweet

Palestinians in Nelson Mandela square, Ramallah paying tribute to South Africa the night before we take Israel to the ICJ for war crimes.

https://twitter.com/sumayamamdoo/status/1745146967867433000

@stomachameleon , will you?

Yes - gonna be interesting if countries start pulling out of trade deals with Israel or otherwise taking action over any human rights abuses identified

“Among the things that we’re looking for is a review of the EU-Israel trade agreement to see if they have breached the human rights clause in that, I called for that at the European Council meeting back in December and also we’re working with a number of other European countries on the possibility of a meaningful decision on the recognition of Palestine.”

@ssd to be fair as with the journalists thread I have asked a question and been greeted by a response by another person demanding I answer it first. This time I will hang fire.....

I assume that will be part of the case and one of the issues Israel will face if it loses or genoicide is proved.
I cannot see it having a huge effect in the Arab countries that I am aware of but other countries may feel the need to show their displeasure with sanctions.
That's all academic though as they have to found 'guilty' first.

I think he is saying that the EU are doing that regardless stoma.
Hes been masterfully fence sitting on the ICJ but clearly the EU are sufficiently concerned about human rights and the Palestinian situation more generally to take action

Brasil supports SAs case
https://twitter.com/ProgIntl/status/1745199224986231238

I think Arab states will use a ‘guilty’ verdict to harness further support for the creation of an independent Palestinian state, which they seem to support. Saudi Arabia ambassador to UK has said this is important to proceed with normalisation of his country’s relationship with Israel anyway.

Jordon had already withdrawn from agreement with regard to water-energy co-operation with Israel.

https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/jordan-says-it-wont-sign-energy-water-deal-with-israel-2023-11-16/

I means there is lots of 'what if's' in that statement. Cameron said the same. America nods to it.
Let's see what the actions are though.

And Colombia

Netanyahu putting the record straight last night on twitter

“I want to make a few points absolutely clear: Israel has no intention of permanently occupying Gaza or displacing its civilian population. Israel is fighting Hamas terrorists, not the Palestinian population, and we are doing so in full compliance with international law.”

The comments come as the international court of justice case against Israel is set to get under way on Thursday.

No one is buying that statement.

Fascinating though, isn't it

Has the hearing started now? I can't seem to see anything on the link

@anotherlevel Hearing starts at 9.00 [GMT]

Thanks I've just seen. They changed the time - yesterday it had it at 8:30am. This will be very interesting to watch.

Opening statement by SA just started ... I'm watching on the side.

Is anyone else having problems opening the page? It's not working for me as I assume there's a lot of traffic to the page.

@anotherlevel it's also being shown at the top of the Guardian live-feed with written commentary by their legal correspondent

It's a little buggy!

Works for me by going to the untv website, then navigating to "live schedule" and selecting the stream.