On Dec. 28, South Africa filed a claim against Israel with the International Court of Justice, a United Nations body in which states can sue one another for violations of international law. The 84-page filing alleges that Israel’s actions in Gaza since Hamas’ attack on Oct. 7 amount not simply to disproportionate force but to genocide against the Palestinian population. The case is indeed a distraction, but not for the reasons that Israel and the U.S. claim. For one thing, Israel’s claims of self-defense and the applicability of the laws of war have no bearing on the matter. Genocide can occur in armed conflicts and even in situations where both sides are engaging in it.

Source: The North Africa Journal January 16, 2024 17:37 UTC