MEDIA RELEASES

South Africa’s ICJ “genocide” case against Israel “cynical and politicised act of lawfare”

January 12, 2024 | AIJAC staff

The Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands, the administrative building for international law, and the International Court of Justice (Image: Shutterstock)
The Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands, the administrative building for international law, and the International Court of Justice (Image: Shutterstock)

South Africa’s contention in its International Court of Justice (ICJ) claim – that Israel’s actions to combat terror in the wake of the October 7 wave of unprovoked mass murder, rape, torture and kidnapping directed largely against civilians inside Israeli territory amount to the crime of genocide – is clearly absurd and can only be explained as a cynical and politicised act of lawfare. No serious analysis of the conflict between Israel and Hamas could suggest any genocidal intention against the Palestinian people on the part of Israel, as the Genocide Convention unambiguously requires.

Efforts to cite aggressive but ambiguous statements by some Israeli politicians and public figures who have no significant role in overseeing Israel’s military plans or policies as proof of genocidal intent amount to an intentional misrepresentation of Israeli policy as part of efforts to deny Israel any right of self-defence – thus aiding and abetting Hamas’ bloody terrorism. Ironically, it is Hamas that has unambiguously displayed genocidal intent through both its actions and words – including repeated calls in official Hamas documents and statements to annihilate not only Israel and its population, but to direct murderous designs against Jews wherever they are, as well.

Burdening the ICJ with such blatantly political and baseless allegations drastically undermines the integrity of the Genocide Convention – which has never been more important than it is today, given the arguably genuine genocides being threatened or perpetrated around the world. Indeed, it is highly damaging to the whole framework of international law, which is supposed to help make the world a better place and upon which the security of Australia, and many other countries, in great part depends.

Dr. Colin Rubenstein
Executive Director – AIJAC

RELATED ARTICLES

RECENT POSTS

Screenshot 2025 07 11 At 12.30.23 pm

‘Time’s up for talk’: Joel Burnie discusses Antisemitism Envoy’s report on Sky News

Screenshot from a video showing radical Israeli rioters torching Palestinian homes in the West Bank town of Huwara in 2023

Myths and Facts about Settler violence

National Antisemitism Envoy Jillian Segal’s Plan to Combat Antisemitism

AIJAC welcomes release of the Antisemitism Envoy’s Plan to Combat Antisemitism; Calls on Government to adopt and implement it “urgently and vigorously”

Anti-Israel protest in Melbourne in October 2024 (Image: Diana Zavaleta/ Shutterstock)

Melbourne’s night of shame

Screenshot 2025 07 08 At 5.15.51 pm

Israeli defence technology the rising star of Operation Rising Lion

SORT BY TOPICS