South Africa reemerges to defend the Palestinians. This time the African nation presented a formal plea to the International Court of Justice, requesting urgent action as Israel plans a ground assault on Rafah. After the court did not issue a specific ruling in January to stop the fire, the South African presidency reaffirmed its stance and urged that Israel’s announced expansion of military operations in Rafah be considered. Gaza, home to about 1.3 million people, continues to demand that the court use its powers to prevent further rights violations. On Monday, Israeli forces conducted bombardments in Gaza and proceeded to move in to free two Israeli hostages, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains resistant to international calls for a halt.
Last month the Hague-based court urged Israel to take every possible precaution to prevent war crimes and genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. South Africa, historically linked to the Palestinian cause and noted for its own past struggle against apartheid, brought the case to the court. Since the start of the offensive in Gaza, thousands have died. Israel has denied genocide charges, invoking the right to self-defense following Hamas’s October 7 attack that killed 1,139 people. Officials have stressed adherence to international law while urging the ICJ to reject the case entirely. A ground operation in Gaza’s southern border area concerns South Africa, signaling the fragility of the situation.
“The unprecedented military actions in Rafah have triggered a growing crisis,” the South African presidency stated, highlighting the serious risk of further casualties and damage. The document underscored the alleged violation of the Genocide Convention and referenced the court’s January 26 order. Since then, the fighting has persisted and intensified, with daily fatalities approaching a grim cadence. South Africa remains convinced that the matter requires urgent and careful handling in light of the daily toll, repeatedly urging a swift response. The court declined to comment on whether the request had been received.
Talks in Cairo
In its initial decision, the court did not demand a ceasefire, instead leaning on established legal precedents that permit emergency measures when battlefield conditions change. The ICJ has not ruled on the merits of South Africa’s case to determine whether acts of genocide occurred in Gaza, yet it acknowledged the protection of Palestinians in Gaza from such acts. The international justice system demonstrated that it cannot guarantee the survival of Gazans in the face of siege conditions and humanitarian shortages that have driven severe deprivation and famine.
Diplomatic channels remain active despite ongoing disagreements. This week a Palestinian delegation met with representatives from American and Israeli intelligence communities in Cairo to discuss possible ceasefire terms and a prisoner exchange facilitated by Egyptian and Qatari mediators. The Israeli side is said to include officials from Mossad, Shin Bet, and the army, while Palestinian negotiators represent Hamas and Islamic Jihad. Recently, Hamas proposed a definitive ceasefire, a plan Netanyahu has publicly opposed.