ICJ: SA Genocide Case vs. ISR - part 2

[HeidiInTheBigCity]

1st thread is full - here comes part 2!

apple.news/Ar4awjqQuR-q3Vj8VSGXrTA

Sky news

South Africa makes urgent request for ICJ to consider Rafah intervention

South Africa has made an urgent request to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to consider whether Israel's decision to extend its military operations in Rafah requires that the court use its power to prevent further breach of the rights of Palestinians in Gaza, South Africa's presidency said on Tuesday, Reuters reports.

Well done SA

I did read the sky news article this morning which was interesting. With Netanyahu it's difficult to tell as there is often a huge gap between what he says and what he does. There's also alot at stake for him and I'm sure he must have his own political standing in mind with whatever he decides too.
Does he really intend to invade Rafah or is this all a ruse to boost his own support or as psychological warfare against Hamas to get them to agree to a deal on his terms?
We will probably find out more over time

@Efacsen I saw Eylon Levy saying that the UN should help in evacuating civilians out of Rafah. Slightly out of tone as he does nothing but criticise them usually, and I can see why they would be reluctant to partake in what could be another forced displacement.

In other news

South Africa has lodged an "urgent request" with the International Court of Justice to consider whether Israel's military operations targeting the city of Rafah constitute a breach of its provisional orders.
It has asked the court to weigh whether a ground offensive represents a "further imminent breach of the rights of Palestinians in Gaza".

Irish Minister Simon Coveney (used to be Minister for foreign affairs) doesn't mince his words.

RTE news : Israel 'behaving like a rogue state', says Coveney

www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2024/0213/1432022-gaza-ireland/

Feels quite fitting really.

I do hope you are right about Biden but I recently watched an interview, I think it was with Jeffrey Sachs, and he said that when Hilary Clinton was Secretary of State, during the Obama administration, she told Netanyahu that the illegal settlements in the West Bank had to go. Netanyahu called Biden to complain and Biden undermined Clinton and fixed it for him. I don't trust Biden at all.

@FOJN I read elsewhere as an opinion piece that Biden wants the war wrapped up ASAP because of how it might affect his votes in the next election.
I don't doubt that a part of it, is for his own political self interests.

I'm sure you are right about that but I'm less convinced that he can persuade Netanyahu to implement a ceasefire.

I know Netanyahu is being criticised by Israeli voters but I'm not clear what proportion of the population support the war. Netanyahu like Biden will serve his own interests first. We can only hope that at some point soon their interests are served by stopping the carnage in Gaza.

From the Guardian newsticker:

South Africa has made an urgent request to the UN’s international court to consider using its power to intervene in Rafah. The country’s presidency asked the court to consider whether Israel’s decision to extend its military operations in Rafah requires it to use its power to prevent further breach of the rights of Palestinians in Gaza.

@Parkingt111 thanks for posting that, laughable that Eylon Levy is saying the UN should evacuate. The logistics and administration of evacuating 1.2 million people would be beyond the scope of even the UN in my opinion. The UN would then have to take on responsibility for the protection of civilians and track them, keep them safe, house them, feed them and educate them etc they can't just move them and then wash their hands. The UN haven't caused the situation that there is nowhere safe left in Gaza. It's such an arrogant position for Levy to take.

If the shoe fits.

Reports and photos online of people leaving Rafah - doesn't seem like huge numbers but surely a sign of desperation

One woman who was interviewed said that she was returning to Al Mazagwi [sp] refugee camp that was bombed on xmas eve

Icjs comment on twitter regarding SA seeking urgent needs put In place to stop the air strikes in rafah

https://twitter.com/CIJ_ICJ/status/1757474247545332004

Thanks for sharing that

I have seen quite a change in rhetoric in recent days from many foreign ministers/officials from different countries which have become alot more critical of Israels conduct in the war.
I'm wondering what's caused this shift which seems quite sudden
Is it the offensive looming in Rafah or the ICJ case?
David Cameron was also more straight forward today when questioned about Israel withholding aid saying they would be breaking international law, previously he was more evasive when questioned in a similar manner

@Rangelife i agree I did think it was cheeky of Eylon but then I'm generally not a fan so was wondering if that was just my own internal bias. The UN seem to have put their foot down on the matter though

I’ve read the ICJ 2018 briefing document on genocide and the International Criminal Courts document on the elements of crime that correspond to the Rome statute. I think that while genocide requires proof of intent which may be difficult to prove as much of the evidence will be presented as contextual, there is more than sufficient evidence for a complete laundry list of war crimes and crimes against humanity. It is really obvious that a range of these crimes are being committed on a massive scale.
Politics is very short term so the don’t care about the outcome of court rulings to come, just about the optics in the lead-in to elections.
I think that there is a wider geopolitical situation with Russia and they don’t want to scupper their alliance with Israel at this point for that reason so were holding off because of Putin at the back door , but it’s an election year and they don’t want to be linked to war crimes and the tipping point has been reached. The diplomatic clock has run out for Netanyahu but he’s going for a last push and they are fit to tie him .

For instance this heartbreaking interview was in NY times during the week
https://www.facebook.com/nytimes/videos/she-survived-an-airstrike-that-killed-her-entire-family-in-gaza/356668707281185/

History is going to be very unkind to those who were complicit in the killing of 11,000 children. Stalin, Mao, Pot, Milosovich, Netanyahu…… who wants to be Bibi’s friend?

@Kindatired thanks for your thoughts and yes I agree. Compared to the start of the war, I see alot more reporting like the story of the young Palestinian girl you posted. I was suprised to see a length piece in sky today of three children who witnessed their parents being killed by the IDF.
Netanyahus words of a 'total victory' were quite eerie, it seems he will go to any lengths to achieve total control over Gaza, no matter how many civilians die in the process.

Didn't know where to put this because I feel like putting it on every thread

Guess where the 100s of displaced people being 'evacuated' from Nasser hospital have been instructed to go to by the IDF

Yep Rafah

Madness. Cruel inhumane madness. And obviously the safe destination for Rafah hasn't been identified yet otherwise they'd go there?

@Efacsen How terrifying for them. I expect they know an assault on Rafah is on the cards, and they will have to move again.

Those poor people are being tortured.

And after all they have already been thro' under siege by IDF at Nasser hospital for 2 weeks

@Efacsen I don't know what to say. I follow Dr Ahmed who is a doctor from Al Nasser hospital. He just posted a update that he and his family have turned back to return to the hospital after initially evacuating.
He mentions the inhumane way soldiers are treating those evacuating including laughing and recording them and swearing at them.
And that it's too risky for them.
He said lots of people are now turning back again towards the hospital due to this.
Its not just the physical struggles but also the psychological distress on civilians who are being forced to move from one place to another whilst knowing they could be killed regardless.

@Parkingt111 turning back sounds like as good a choice as any - how could anyone decide

There's a horrible message from MSF this morning alluding to the psychological impact