A group of 50 lawyers from South Africa is preparing to sue the American and British governments for their alleged complicity in the crimes committed by Israel in Palestine. The initiative, led by lawyer Wikus van Rensburg, aims to prosecute the accomplices of the crime in civil courts, in collaboration with lawyers in the United States and the United Kingdom.
In preparation for the case, Rensburg sent letters to several countries and the International Criminal Court over the past few weeks. Rensburg, in a statement to the Anadolu Agency, insisted that the United States should be held responsible for the crimes it has committed. He emphasized that many lawyers decided to join the initiative, feeling a responsibility and desire to contribute to this case.
Rensburg stated, “No one is holding the United States accountable for its crimes, and nobody seems to care about it. What happened in Iraq in 2003 (the American invasion) is an example of this.” He added, “The United States is busy spending more money and resources to commit crimes. No one tells it to stop.”
The International Court of Justice in The Hague held public hearings on Thursday and Friday to consider a lawsuit filed by South Africa against Israel, accusing it of committing “genocide” against the Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
The ICJ case filed by South Africa against Israel, accusing it of committing genocide in Gaza, has garnered a mix of international reactions. Several countries and organizations have expressed their support for South Africa’s case. These include the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC), Malaysia, Turkey, Jordan, Bolivia, the Maldives, Namibia, Pakistan, Colombia, Brazil, Iran, and Lebanon. The OIC, a 57-member bloc, voiced its support for the case, and Malaysia was one of the first countries to publicly endorse South Africa’s application. Bolivia, along with South Africa, Bangladesh, Comoros, and Djibouti, had previously filed a request to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to investigate the situation in Palestine. Lebanon’s foreign ministry also announced its endorsement of the case on the first day of the hearing.
On the other hand, the United States has voiced its opposition to the genocide case, with National Security spokesperson John Kirby calling South Africa’s submission “meritless, counterproductive, and completely baseless.” Israel, for its part, has promised to defend itself at the court, with senior Israeli officials, including President Isaac Herzog, calling the case “preposterous” and a “blood libel.” Israel is likely to argue that its actions in Gaza are in self-defense.
The case filed by South Africa alleges that Israel’s actions in Gaza, including the killing of Palestinians, especially children, the destruction of their homes, and the imposition of blockades on food, water, and medical assistance, constitute genocidal acts. South Africa’s immediate demands include urgent provisional measures by the ICJ to prevent Israel from committing further crimes in the strip.
