SA not seeking delay in Israel genocide case

SA is not seeking a delay in its genocide case against Israel in The Hague, the Department of International Relations & Co-operation said last week. News24 reports that spokesperson Chrispin Phiri reiterated a written statement on Tuesday that ‘SA intends to provide facts and evidence to prove that Israel is committing the crime of genocide in Palestine’. SA has until 28 October to give the International Court of Justice (ICJ) evidence Israel is deliberately trying to destroy Palestinians in Gaza as a group. Israel will then have until the end of July 2025 to respond in writing, before what will likely be another long period before oral argument reaches the court. Earlier on Tuesday, Israeli national broadcaster KAN reported SA was seeking to extend its submission deadline. That report came shortly after Israel reportedly instructed its diplomats in the US to put pressure on SA to drop the ICJ case. News site Axios said it had seen a confidential cable to the Israeli Embassy in Washington and all Israel's consulates in the US with instructions to lobby US legislators on SA’s case. A Polity report notes SA’s case against Israel has been joined by Nicaragua, Palestine, Turkey, Spain, Mexico, Libya and Colombia. ‘SA will be filing its memorial to the ICJ next month. This case will continue until the court makes a finding. While the case is in progress, we hope that Israel will abide by the court’s provisional orders issued to date,’ the Presidency said yesterday.