South Africa Urges UN Judges to End Israel’s Ground Assault on Rafah in Gaza

South Africa Urges UN Judges to Order Israel to End Ground Assault on Gaza

In a dramatic hearing at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, South Africa made a passionate plea for the judges to order Israel to halt its ground assault on Rafah in southern Gaza. The South African legal team argued that the assault put Palestinian lives in the enclave at imminent risk of destruction and that it was part of a larger plan to annihilate Gaza.

“It has become increasingly clear that Israel’s actions in Rafah are part of the end game in which Gaza is utterly destroyed as an area capable of human habitation,” said Vaughan Lowe, a British lawyer representing South Africa. “This is the last step in the destruction of Gaza and its Palestinian people.”

The South African team presented evidence over two hours, highlighting the severe humanitarian crisis facing Palestinians in Gaza. They emphasized the threat to the flow of humanitarian supplies and the ability for hospitals to function due to Israel’s control over major border crossings in southern Gaza.

Members of the team quoted warnings from senior United Nations officials about the impact of an assault on Rafah, citing the worsening hunger crisis and conditions for civilians in the enclave. They also accused Israel of intent to destroy Gaza as a whole, not just targeting Hamas, their stated enemy.

The legal team requested the court to order Israel to facilitate access to Gaza for aid workers, investigators, fact-finding missions, and journalists. They showed images of the devastation caused by Israel’s military campaign in Gaza, including the deaths of children, to illustrate the urgency of their plea.

Israel vehemently denied the allegations, stating that they have not restricted aid entering Gaza and have ramped up supplies. They claimed that their assault on Rafah was a precise operation targeting only Hamas members responsible for recent attacks.

The court is set to hear Israel’s defense on Friday, with a decision expected soon given South Africa’s assertion of the urgent situation in Rafah. The case is part of South Africa’s broader accusation against Israel of genocide, with the main trial expected to begin next year.

While the court has no enforcement powers, the South Africa case has increased international pressure on Israel to cease its campaign in Gaza. Marlise Simons and Johnatan Reiss contributed to the reporting of this crucial development at the UN court.