While experts from the United Nations, the Arab League, Iran, Turkey, Brazil and Colombia have been in favor of the complaint, the United States and the United Kingdom are against the initiative.
The South African accusation against Israel in the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to maintain a “pattern of genocidal behavior” in the Gaza Strip divides the world between supporters of the denunciation, such as the Arab League, Iran, Brazil and Colombia, and opponents, such as the US and the United Kingdom.
The ICJ in The Hague, the highest UN court, held a first hearing this Thursday on the complaint, with which South Africa demands an end to the Israeli bombings.
The Palestinian National Authority (ANP) today described this international judicial process as “historic” and has urged more countries to support it, while the Israeli Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahuhas rejected the complaint and has assured that Israel fights “against terrorism and against lies.”
For its part, Hamas expects the ICJ to demand an end to the offensive against Gaza and blame Israel for war crimes.
Experts from United Nations have welcomed the beginning of the hearings. “We commend South Africa for bringing this case to the ICJ at a time when the rights of Palestinians in Gaza are being violated with impunity,” said in a statement, including the special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Palestine. , Francesca Albanese.
The secretary general of the Arab leagueAhmed Abulgueit, said the day before, in statements to the press, that he “fully supports the lawsuit against Israel, and hopes for “a fair sentence that stops this hostile war and puts an end to the shedding of Palestinian blood.”
“The Islamic Republic of Iran celebrates the action of the South African Government as responsible, brave and honorable in support of the Palestinian people,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement.
A parliamentary delegation from Türkiyewhose Government has expressed “satisfaction” with South Africa’s complaint, has traveled to The Hague to follow the first hearing, the Turkish agency Anadolu reported this Thursday.
The head of the delegation, Cüneyt Yüksel, has indicated that “the massacre of nearly 23,000 Palestinians, the vast majority of them women and children, that Israel has been committing for three months in Gaza, cannot in any way go unanswered; “Those responsible must be held accountable before international justice.”
For her part, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson ChinaMao Ning, limited himself to saying on Wednesday that his government urges “the parties to an immediate ceasefire and end the war.”
In America, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva announced on Wednesday the support of Brazil “in light of the flagrant violations of international humanitarian law” in the Strip and for the court to “order Israel” to immediately cease all acts and measures that may constitute genocide.
And the Government of Colombia welcomed the complaint, considering it “very clear that the actions and measures” of the Israeli Government “configure acts of genocide,” according to a statement.
USAwhich has not ratified the Rome Statute with which the ICC was established and has traditionally opposed several of its investigations, considers that “the allegations that Israel is committing genocide are unfounded.”
He stressed, however, that Israel “must not only comply with international humanitarian law in its operations against Hamas, but must seek further ways to prevent harm to civilians and investigate credible allegations of violations of international humanitarian law.”
On Wednesday, the Foreign Minister of United KingdomDavid Cameron told a parliamentary committee that he does not believe the South African demand “is helpful.”
Source: Eitb
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