A wave of international support is building for South Africa’s petition at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), urging the UN court to hold Israel accountable for alleged genocide in Gaza. Over 90,000 people have signed an online petition on change.org endorsing South Africa’s referral of Israel to the ICJ for what it describes as “genocidal crimes against the Palestinian people.”
South Africa filed its petition on December 29, 2023, accusing Israel of genocide. The ICJ has accepted the petition, scheduling a public hearing on January 11 and 12, 2024. The online petition, initiated by Riyad Tibi in the United Kingdom, expresses support for South Africa’s action, aiming to bring international attention to the suffering in Gaza.
In the petition titled “Why this petition matters,” Tibi wrote, “We the undersigned applaud and fully support South Africa’s referral of Israel to the ICJ for its genocidal crimes against the Palestinian people in Gaza.” The petition emphasizes the hope that this action will lead to international intervention, ending the suffering in Gaza and achieving justice after months of alleged Israeli war crimes.
South Africa’s ICJ application characterizes Israel’s actions in Gaza as “genocidal,” intending the destruction of a substantial part of the Palestinian national, racial, and ethnic group. The cited acts include killing Palestinians, causing serious bodily and mental harm, and inflicting conditions of life calculated to bring about their physical destruction.
Despite a slow start, the change.org petition has gained substantial support, with over 90,809 signatures, and the numbers continue to rise. The petition surge coincides with the ongoing military offensive by Israeli Occupation Forces in Gaza, resulting in a high number of civilian casualties, including women and children.
In the last 24 hours, Israeli airstrikes on civilian areas and refugee camps in Gaza have led to 125 Palestinian deaths and 318 injuries, according to the Palestinian Health Ministry. The besieged Gaza Strip is also grappling with acute water and food shortages due to the Israeli blockade since October 7.
The growing global endorsement of South Africa’s ICJ petition underscores the heightened international concern over the situation in Gaza and the call for accountability regarding alleged war crimes.
