South Africa asked the t op international court today (May 16, 2024) to order a halt to the Rafah offensive, accused Israel of genocide , and said the country's war effort "must be stopped"to protect the Palestinian people , the USA Today website reports.
South Adfrica's legal representatives at the International Court of Justice -- also known as the World Court -- said Israel's shutdown of the Rafah and Kerem Shalom border crossings have plunged Gaza into "unprecedented levels of humanitarian need." They demanded Israel completely withdraw from Rafah, a city of 250,000 before the war that swelled to more than one million ,as refugees fled fighting elsewhere in Gaza.
"From the onset, Israel's intent was always to destroy Palestinian life and to wipe them off the face of the earth," said South African law professor Max du Plessis. "Rafah is the final stand. "
Israel will provide a response in court tomorrow. Israeli offficials have previously denied in court claims the country's military campaign violates the 1949 Genocide Convenrtion, arguing that it stepped up efforts to provide humanitarian aid for Gaza in acordance with previous court orders.
The court's rulings and orders are binding, but it has no way to enforce them. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly claimed Israel is defending itself after the Hamas--led attack October 7 that resulted in almost 1,200 deaths and the seizing of more than 250 hostages.
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