South Africa reviews Israel’s defense in Gaza genocide case

2026-03-16 - 13:33

Pretoria will consider West Jerusalem’s submission and determine the next step in the proceedings, President Ramaphosa’s office has said South Africa is reviewing Israel’s response to its case in the UN’s top court over alleged genocide in Gaza, Pretoria has said, arguing that West Jerusalem’s conduct against Palestinians violates international law. Israel submitted its counter memorial (counter-arguments) to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on March 12, more than half a year after the original July 28, 2025 deadline. The ICJ had initially ordered West Jerusalem to respond within that timeframe to Pretoria’s memorial (written arguments), filed on October 28, 2024, but granted two extensions at Israel’s request, according to a statement issued by the South African presidency. On Sunday, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s office said it has taken note of the submission and will “decide whether to request the court’s permission to make further written submissions in reply, or to proceed directly to the oral phase of proceedings.” “Palestinians in Gaza continue to face ongoing bombardment from Israeli strikes, with unabated loss of life,” it stated. READ MORE: More countries pick sides in genocide case against Israel South Africa initiated the case in December 2023 after Israel launched a military campaign in Gaza following the October 7 Hamas attack. The militants killed around 1,200 people and took more than 250 hostages during the raid into Israel. West Jerusalem responded with a blockade, airstrikes, and a ground operation in Gaza that has killed over 72,000 Palestinians so far, according to local health authorities. Read more The ghosts of apartheid triggered South Africa’s case against Israel in The Hague More than 650 Palestinians have been killed and over 1,740 injured since October 2025 despite a US-brokered ceasefire. Pretoria accuses West Jerusalem of violating the 1948 Genocide Convention through actions including killings, forced displacement, and the blocking of humanitarian aid in Gaza. Israel denies the allegations, saying its campaign is a legitimate act of self-defense against Hamas in response to the October 7 attack. The US, Hungary, and Fiji have submitted legal arguments supporting Israel’s position, urging a strict interpretation of the Genocide Convention and warning that lowering the bar for proving genocidal intent could undermine international law. READ MORE: Israel’s ‘unlawful occupation’ must end – South Africa Washington described the lawsuit as legally flawed and called on the ICJ to reject the genocide allegation, noting that the threshold for proving intent has not been met. Meanwhile, Namibia, Iceland, and the Netherlands have joined more than a dozen countries siding with South Africa, urging a broader interpretation of the Genocide Convention that takes into account Israel’s overall conduct, the situation in Gaza, and the wider impact of the conflict. READ MORE: US accuses South Africa of ‘poor foreign policy choices’