South Africa has said more than 50 countries have expressed support for its case at the United Nations’ top court accusing Israel of genocide against Palestinians in the war in Gaza.
Countries including United States, a top ally of Israel, have strongly rejected South Africa’s allegation that Israel is violating the UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. Many other nations have remained silent.
The world’s reaction to the landmark case that was heard Thursday and Friday at the International Court of Justice in The Hague shows a predictable global split when it comes to the inextricable, 75-year-old problem of Israel and the Palestinians.
The majority of countries backing South Africa’s case are from the Arab world and Africa. While in Europe, only the Muslim nation of Turkey has publicly stated its support.
Countries in Support of Israel
US Calls it ‘Meritless’ Allegations
US has rejected South Africa’s allegations as unfounded. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on a visit to Israel a day before the court proceedings began that South Africa’s allegations are “meritless” and that the case “distracts the world” from efforts to find a lasting solution to the conflict. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said genocide is “not a word that ought to be thrown around lightly, and we certainly don’t believe that it applies here.”
UK
UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron disagreed with South African decision to take Israel to the International Court of Justice and says Israel has no case to answer at the ICJ.
Cameron denied the possibility of intent when it comes to genocide allegations and added that he doesn’t believe Israel as a democratic country with the rule of law could commit genocide.
German Support For Israel
Germany’s announcement of support for Israel has symbolic significance given its history of the Holocaust, when the Nazis killed 6 million Jews in Europe. Israel was created after World War II as a haven for Jews in the shadow of those atrocities.
“Israel has been defending itself,” German government spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit said. His statement also invoked the Holocaust, which in large part spurred the creation of the UN Genocide Convention in 1948. Germany said it intends to intervene in the case on Israel’s behalf.
Nations Backing South Africa’s Case
Turkey
Turkey, which is in the process of joining the EU, was a lone voice in the region. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country provided documents that were being used against Israel in the case. “With these documents, Israel will be condemned,” he said.
Spain
The hard-left party in Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez’s coalition government on Thursday backed South Africa’s “genocide” case against Israel at the UN’s top court, calling it a “necessary step”.
“South Africa’s lawsuit against Israel is a necessary step to prevent genocide. It is urgent and necessary for the International Court of Justice to order precautionary measures to achieve a permanent ceasefire,” the Sumar party wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Arab Countries
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation was one of the first blocs to publicly back the case when South Africa filed it late last month. It said there was “mass genocide being perpetrated by the Israeli defense forces” and accused Israel of “indiscriminate targeting” of Gaza’s civilian population.
The OIC is a bloc of 57 countries that includes Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Egypt. Its headquarters are in Saudi Arabia. The Cairo-based Arab League, whose 22 member countries are almost all part of the OIC, also backed South Africa’s case.
South Africa drew some support from outside the Arab world. Namibia and Pakistan agreed with the case at a U.N. General Assembly session this week. Malaysia also expressed support. Malaysia’s Foreign Ministry demanded “legal accountability for Israel’s atrocities in Gaza.”
China And Russia Silent
China, Russia — which is also facing allegations of genocide in the world court —have largely remained silent, seemingly aware that taking a stand in such an inflammatory case has little upside and could irreversibly upset their relationships in the region.
Somewhere in The Middle
A handful of South American countries have spoken up, including the continent’s biggest economy, Brazil, whose Foreign Ministry said President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva backed South Africa’s case. However, the ministry’s comments did not directly accuse Israel of genocide but focused on the need for a cease-fire in Gaza.
South Africa’s case against Israel is two-fold: It wants the court to say Israel is committing genocide and to issue an interim ruling ordering an end to its military campaign in Gaza. The court said it would decide on an interim ruling soon but, reflecting the gravity of the case, it could take years for a final verdict on the genocide charge.
Brazil said it hoped the case would get Israel to “immediately cease all acts and measures that could constitute genocide.”
Other countries have stopped short of agreeing with South Africa. Ireland premier Leo Varadkar said the genocide case was “far from clear cut” but that he hoped the court would order a cease-fire in Gaza.
(With inputs from Associated Press)
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