YES, ISRAEL MUST STOP GENOCIDE

THE world must face reality that what is going on in the Gaza Strip where Israel has launched an allout war against Hamas is no longer self-defence. It is nothing short of genocide and that is why South Africa felt morally compelled to take the matter to the International Court of Justice at The Hague last month. Just as we spoke in favour of the action by South Africa in which Pretoria accused Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians, we are happy that the ICJ has at least recognised elements of genocide South Africa brought the case to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) earlier this month, asking it to grant emergency measures to halt the fighting, which has killed more than 26, 000 Palestinians. It accused Israel of state-led genocide in its offensive, begun after Hamas militants stormed into Israel killing 1, 200 and kidnapping more than 240. Israel sought to have the case thrown out. But thankfully in its ruling yesterday, the World Court ordered Israel to prevent acts of genocide against the Palestinians and do more to help civilians, although it stopped short of ordering a ceasefire as requested by South Africa. Under the measures Israel has been told to do all in its power to stop genocide there, immediately enable more urgently needed aid to enter the territory and to prevent and punish the direct incitement of genocide in the conflict. Like South Africa, we too have welcomed the ruling by the ICJ relating to its case against Israel calling it a “decisive victory.” Whatever the detractors might say, we think the World Court ruling is a moral victory for those who do not wish to blindly support the Israeli cause. The Gaza Strip, since the October 7 attack by Hamas into Israel has been turned into what can only be described as the killing fields in which Palestinians have nowhere to hide from Israeli attacks. Hospitals have been bombed and literary shut while even shelters provided by the United Nations have not been spared. Innocent civilians are being killed even there. The places they call home have been reduced to rubble leaving them in a hopeless situation. They have actually been in this situation since Israel was created in 1948 as they were removed from their ancestral homes. The biggest casualties in all this are women and children. The scale of the civilian deaths from the random military strikes have even made Israel’s traditional allies, the United States call for restraint from the Israelis. But they did not have the moral courage to go a step further. South Africa, not wanting to be caught in the geopolitics of the Middle East took it upon itself to take Israel to the World Court for which they should be commended. The Palestinian issue will never be solved as long as the Palestinians are denied their state, a place they can call home. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to annihilate Hamas. That will not guarantee peace for Israel in that as long as the Palestinians are not settled, dissent will always be there.