Israel’s Gaza war, the ICJ and American genocide lawsuit
THE INTERNATIONAL Court of Justice (ICJ) has refused South Africa’s request to order a ceasefire in Gaza. This was the key issue demanded by South Africa in their genocide case against Israel.
By refusing to order Israel to stop the mass killing of civilians and destruction of homes, churches, schools, mosques, and hospitals, the ICJ may have undermined their international moral standing. Why do I say that? International public opinion was demanding an Israeli ceasefire and an end to the carnage in Gaza. This was seen in the global mass protests to Israel’s Gaza war.
MORAL AND LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY
The ICJ, therefore, by failing to order this ceasefire, may have abdicated their moral and legal responsibilities to humanity. In this sense, they handed down a ruling which appeared contradictory to the facts South Africa presented in their case.
Secondly, the ruling has no practical application, since, without a ceasefire, humanitarian aid cannot be delivered to Gaza’s long-suffering people.
South Africa’s Foreign Minister Dr Naledi Pandor could hardly hide her disappointment.
The South African foreign minister said that the ICJ ruling made no sense without a ceasefire being ordered.
“How do you provide aid and water without a ceasefire?” she asked.
Having been boxed into a corner by South Africa’s brilliant, wellproven case of genocide against Israel, the ICJ was forced to try to find a compromise.
South Africa had sued Israel, accusing them of breaching the 1948 Genocide Convention.The crux of their genocide case focused on:
• Israel’s mass killing of civilians in Gaza, which so far has led to over 25,000 deaths.
• The systematic assault on Gaza’s health facilitates, including over 200 health facilities, 50 ambulances and the killing of many doctors and other health workers.
• Deliberately imposing conditions that cannot sustain life. This includes cutting water supply, light, the delivery of food, etc.
• Blocking lifesaving equipment used to deliver babies. Many preemies died in their incubators because of this gross inhumane act.
ICJ DILATORY RULING
The ICJ ruling merely asked Israel to be literally more careful in what they are doing.
In other words, “keep up the Gaza war and the mass carnage but do it more carefully!”
Having reviewed the facts of South Africa’s genocide case, Israel was merely asked to:
• Take measures to prevent acts of genocide in the Gaza Strip.
• Prevent incitement to commit acts of genocide and punish those responsible.
• Allow humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip
• Take more measures to protect Palestinians.
How can the ICJ ask Israel to monitor themselves if they are continuing and are accused of committing genocide in Gaza?
Israel has already proved that this ICJ ruling has no practical effect on their behaviour.
They are still not allowing humanitarian supplies into Gaza. And they are still bombing refugee camps, leading to the continued mass slaughtering of civilians.
Regarding “stopping the genocide incitement”, on January 28, 2024, a large rally was held in Tel Aviv, the Israeli capital, on the planned “Resettlement of the Gaza Strip”.
Israeli Security Minister Itar Ben-Gvir led a group of 11 cabinet ministers and 15 other members of parliament who once again brazenly announced their plans to get rid of Palestinians from Gaza and build new settlements.
“This violates the International Court of Justice ruling, ”the Guardian newspaper correctly stated.
Of course it does! But Benjamin Netanyahu and his Zionist settler colonialists are not worried about “trifling things” such as the international rule of law.
GENOCIDE LAWSUIT
Meanwhile, Netanyahu’s biggest supporter, Joe Biden, has his own 2024 election problems. The national electorate is turned off by his unrelenting backing of Israel’s Gaza war.
There are also serious legal problems facing President Biden stemming from Israel’s Gaza war.
A Federal Genocide Lawsuit has been filed against President Joe Biden, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III and Secretary of State Antony Blinken.
This American federal genocide lawsuit has been running in tandem with the South Africa suit against Israel.
Leila El Haddad is a Palestinian American journalist and mother of four. She is one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit against Mr Biden.
She is arguing in federal court that as an American taxpayer, her money ought not to be going to help Israel commit genocide in Gaza.
Mrs El Haddad has helped to put a human face to the indiscriminate killing taking place in Gaza.
“Failure to prevent genocide” is one of the legal theories being pursued against Mr Biden. The lawsuit argues that “the plaintiffs were well aware of Israel’s genocide” and yet they “continued to give military assistance and political support to Israel”.
This is a serious matter that has grave legal and political implications for Mr Biden and his right-wing cabal. Public opinion polls and the size of the demonstrations we see show that most American citizens do not support Israel’s war in Gaza.
The ICJ ruling is a political victory for President Joe Biden who is in a tough re-election fight.
There are some who say that Biden may pay a political price in November 2024.
How will it all work out for President Biden? Who knows. Let’s wait and see!
Will Israel stop using high explosive bombs, hand-placed explosives and bulldozers to demolish Palestinian homes, cemeteries, schools, universities, churches, mosques, libraries and hospitals?
Certainly not!
Why should they pay attention to anything except their Zionist, settlement colonialist mentality!
Still, prior to this world court ruling, all efforts in the United Nations Security Council to have a ceasefire in Gaza was blocked by America and Europe.
So, while the world court in this provisional ruling rejected South Africa’s demand for an immediate ceasefire, the court of public opinion still exists.
Therefore, in the eyes of the world South Africa emerged a champion of world justice.
South Africa fought hard for Palestinian and international justice, but manipulative, imperialistic politics may well have trumped the global fight for justice!
That is just the bitta truth.