Evidence shows Israel using hunger as weapon in Gaza: South Africa

South Africa says the detailed memorial it has submitted to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) concerning genocide carried out by Israel in the Gaza Strip contains evidence that the occupying regime is using hunger as a “weapon of war” against the Palestinians.

Foreign Minister Ronald Lamola made the remarks at a press conference in the capital Pretoria on Tuesday, following South Africa submission of a detailed memorial to the top UN court, presenting evidence of genocide carried out by Israel in Gaza last month.

‘‘The evidence demonstrates unequivocally that Israel’s genocidal acts are of special intent to commit genocide in the Gaza strip. Its failure to prevent genocide and incitement to genocide and its failure to punish those inciting and committing acts of genocide,’’ Lamola said.

He went on to say that Israel intends to depopulate Gaza through mass killings and forced displacements, stressing that all countries have the responsibility to prevent and punish the crime of genocide.

South Africa files 750-page evidence at ICJ against Israeli genocide in Gaza

Israel will have until July 2025 to submit a response to allegations that it is committing genocide against the Gazans.

Lamola further noted that South Africa condemns the spread of disinformation concerning the genocide case it filed against Israel at ICJ, emphasizing that such efforts aim to draw public attention away from the ongoing genocide in Gaza.

He also stated that post-apartheid South Africa has consistently advocated for the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including for Israel to end its unlawful occupation of Palestine.

On October 29, South Africa filed a detailed submission to the ICJ outlining evidence of Israel’s violation of the 1948 Genocide Convention during its barbarism in Gaza.

The South African presidency said in a statement at the time that the evidence had been presented in more than 750 pages of text, in addition to over 4,000 pages of annexes, adding that the submission, also called a memorial, includes evidence of acts of genocide and genocidal intent.

Israel will have until July 2025 to submit a response to allegations that it is committing genocide against the Gazans.

South Africa brought its case before the top UN court in December 2023, accusing Israel of violating the Genocide Convention, during the Gaza aggression since October 2023. The 84-page application alleged that Israel has committed acts intended to wipe out the Palestinians.

On January 26, the ICJ said it was plausible that Israel had breached the Genocide Convention. As an emergency measure, it ordered Israel ensure that its army refrained from genocidal acts against the Palestinians.

Several states have requested intervention in South Africa's case, including Bolivia, the Maldives, Chile, Turkey, Spain, Mexico, Libya, Colombia and Nicaragua. 

A UN inquiry recently accused Israel of committing war crimes and the crime against humanity of extermination in Gaza through its systematic attacks on the healthcare system.

On May 29, South Africa submitted a dossier to the UN Security Council including 120 pages of evidence of genocidal intent and incitement to commit genocide against the Palestinians in Gaza.

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