Top UN to Rule on South Africa Gaza Ceasefire Bid on Friday

The International Court of Justice is set to announce its decision on South Africa's plea for Israel to halt its military operations in the Gaza Strip, including in Rafah city.

 The ICJ's rulings are legally binding, although it lacks the authority to enforce them. Despite ordering Russia to cease its invasion of Ukraine, the ICJ's decision was not heeded. 

A ruling against Israel would escalate international legal pressure, following the International Criminal Court's move to seek arrest warrants for top Israeli and Hamas officials. South Africa has accused Israel of committing "genocide" in Gaza, particularly in Rafah, which is facing a ground invasion.

Vaughan Lowe, representing South Africa, argued that the Rafah offensive signifies the final stage in the devastation of Gaza and its people. 

"It was Rafah that brought South Africa to the court. But it is all Palestinians as a national, ethnical and racial group who need the protection from genocide that the court can order," he said.

Lawyers for Israel hit out at South Africa's case as being "totally divorced" from reality and that made a "mockery" of the 1948 UN Genocide Convention it is accused of breaching. 

Lawyers for Israel hit out at South Africa's case as being "totally divorced" from reality and that made a "mockery" of the 1948 UN Genocide Convention it is accused of breaching.