AN IRISH European Parliament member has called on the European Union to support South Africa’s International Court of Justice (ICJ) case against Israel over its recent actions in Gaza.
South Africa is demanding an emergency suspension of Israel’s aerial and ground offensive in the Palestinian enclave, telling the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, the United Nations’ highest court that Israel was committing genocidal acts.
Irish EP member Clare Daly delivered a powerful speech plenary session of the European Parliament (EP) yesterday in which she claimed that because of its actions, including the killing of tens of thousands of civilians and relentless bombardment in Gaza, Israel has lost the support of the international public.
During her speech Daly criticised Israel for what she called “provocative” actions aimed at inciting regional conflict, and she accused the nation of seeking assistance from the US to evade accountability.
Her comments follow those of Tirana Hassan, executive director of Human Rights Watch, who said the international community would be responsible for ensuring that Israel complies with any judicial decision.
Irish MEP Clare Daly is urging the EU to support South Africa’s court case (Pic: Getty)
Hassan told Reuters that “South Africa is providing important leadership here. It’s really using this important opportunity.”
She said: “If Israel does not comply with the measures or orders of the court, then it is up to the international community to ensure that they are leveraging whatever pressure that they can to encourage Israel to actually implement the measures.”
During the initial hearings last week Tembeka Ngcukaitobi, advocate of the High Court of South Africa told the court: “The intent to destroy Gaza has been nurtured at the highest level of state.”
He said Israel’s political and military leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, were among “the genocidal inciters”.
However South Africa’s action in bringing the case to the ICJ has been criticised by Israel.
It said that allegations of genocide were unfounded and a “distortion of the truth” claimed that South Africa was representing Hamas, a claim which the African nation has denied.
Tal Becker, the Israeli foreign ministry’s legal adviser told the ICJ during the initial hearings that South Africa had presented “a sweeping counter-factual description” of the Israel-Palestinian conflict.
“The appalling suffering of civilians, both Israeli and Palestinian, is first and foremost the result of Hamas’ he told the court.
“If there were acts of genocide, they have been perpetrated against Israel. Hamas seeks genocide against Israel.”
In court its defence team argued that what Israel could to alleviate the humanitarian suffering in Gaza. This included, it said its efforts evacuate Palestinians from the country before military action occurred.
Possible emergency measures, such as South Africa’s request that the court force Israel to cease its attack, are due to be decided upon later this month.
Although ICJ rulings are final and cannot be appealed, the court does not have the authority to implement them.
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Frustration and disappointment have caused me to be terribly upset with most of the governments of Africa; President Nelson Mandela, and especially South Africa’s ANC Government.
However, witnessing the sheer fear that has caused most of the Western Caucasian European governments to remain silent, even after witnessing the slaughter of the semitic children of Gaza, whilst western parliaments continue to fund Gaza’s oppressors with funds, weapons, and political support, has caused me to reassess my criticism of South Africa’s ANC governments.
All African-heritage men, women, and youth, can today raise our head, and salute the valiant efforts of the ANC government of South Africa; who have taken the cruel oppressors of Gaza to the International Court of Justice (ICJ), on behalf of the politically powerless semitic people of military occupied Gaza.
It requires enormous courage to oppose Gaza’s oppressors.