The Government of South Africa said on March 15 that it is reviewing Israel’s response submitted to the International Court of Justice in the genocide case relating to the conflict in Gaza Strip.
In a statement, South Africa’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation confirmed that Israel filed its response on March 12 to the country’s written pleadings under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide.
The Government said it will now examine the submission before deciding whether to request permission from the Court to file additional written arguments or proceed directly to the oral phase of proceedings.
The statement also noted that despite three binding rulings by the ICJ ordering Israel to prevent acts of genocide and allow humanitarian assistance, destruction and loss of life in Gaza continue. It added that tensions are being compounded by developments in the Gulf and Israeli attacks in Lebanon, raising concerns about wider regional instability.
South Africa first filed the genocide case on December 29, 2023, and requested urgent provisional measures due to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The ICJ subsequently issued orders on January 26, March 28, and May 24, 2024, directing Israel to take steps to prevent acts that could fall under the Genocide Convention and to report its actions to the court.