Fabian Johan
The South African government has formally filed genocide charges against the state of Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the United Nations’ main international court. As a result of its brutal war against the Palestinians, the South African government has stated that Israel has the “specific intent … to destroy the Palestinians in Gaza as part of the broader Palestinian national and ethnic group”. South Africa’s initiative was supported by the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, which has 75 member states. It was also supported by hundreds of progressive Palestinian and peace organisations.
On 11 and 12 January, the first two hearings took place at the ICJ in The Hague. A delegation of progressive activists accompanied the South African delegation, including former left-wing Labour leader and anti-war activist Jeremy Corbyn. As Corbyn has always been close to the Palestinian solidarity movement and denounced imperialist wars in the House of Commons, he was invited to join the delegation. The organisers of the delegation explained that Corbyn has “always been on the right side of history, supporting a cause that aims to protect people’s rights, regardless of their nationality or ethnicity”.
Although it was a weekday, many people turned up to protest outside the court on Thursday morning. What was striking was the high turnout from the Jewish community, which has started to form anti-Zionist Jewish organisations in the Netherlands since the war against Gaza began on 7 October. Some members of the orthodox Jewish organisation Neturei Karta (Guardians of the City of Jerusalem) carried signs with the words “The State of Israel does not represent world Jewry” and “Judaism condemns the State of Israel and its atrocities”.
Also present were activists from BDS Netherlands, Samidoun, Students for Palestine and activists from BIJ1 (Together, an anti-racist left-wing party in the Netherlands). The large crowd gathered around a big screen showing Al Jazeera’s live broadcast of the hearing. As the South African delegation defended the Palestinians and accused Israel of genocide, the crowd erupted in thunderous applause.
As the Guardian reports, the trial could take years, but “an injunction could be granted within weeks”. If it can be proven that some of Israel’s actions fall under the Genocide Convention, the court can issue interim measures within weeks. Even if a court judgement cannot be enforced, a United Nations declaration of genocide can have serious consequences, further delegitimise the Zionist attacks in the eyes of the public, strengthen Palestinian resistance and the solidarity movement. It would help the trade union movement to call for a workers’ boycott against Israel and strengthen those forces in favour of stopping arms supplies and political and economic support for Israel. It is therefore important to support international efforts to expose Israel’s crimes, as they strengthen the solidarity movement with Palestine and bring us closer to a just peace in the Middle East.