ISRAEL | A Gaza Genocide?

In December 2023, South Africa initiated proceedings against Israel at the International Court of Justice under the Genocide Convention, alleging that Israel's actions in Gaza amounted to a deliberate policy of extermination against the Palestinian people. In response, Israel has vehemently denied these accusations, asserting that its actions were justified self-defence measures in response to the deadly attacks by Hamas on 7 October 2023.

Under the 1948 Genocide Convention, any country can bring a case against another state. Following the start of Israel’s war against Hamas, which has already led to the deaths of over 23,000 Palestinians and seen almost 2 million displaced, South Africa brought a case against Israel, also calling for provisional measures to halt the fighting. The case has generated international debate, with some countries supporting South Africa's claim and others, especially in the West, dismissing it. Having heard the two sides on 11 and 12 January 2024, the Court is expected to issue a ruling on provisional measures in the coming weeks to determine if Israel's actions may contravene the Genocide Convention. However, the final ruling on whether Israel has violated the Genocide Convention could take several years. If the ICJ rules against Israel, it could lead to further actions at the United Nations, including resolutions in the Security Council and General Assembly. In the meantime, Israel is challenging the Court's credibility and will likely claim political motivation if the ruling goes against it, which could have significant implications for its reputation. However, the ICJ's decision could also pose challenges for countries that support Israel, as they must decide whether to condemn Israel or reject the court's ruling, potentially affecting the ICJ's legitimacy as the principal legal organ of the UN.

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*VIDEO CHAPTERS*
00:00 Introduction and Titles
00:42 Genocide in Modern International Relations
02:35 The International Court of Justice and Genocide
04:12 The Gaza War and Allegations of Genocide
05:22 South Africa’s Brings the Genocide Case to the IC
06:41 The Genocide Hearings at the ICJ
08:42 Israel’s Genocide Case: Next Steps?
09:37 Will Israel Comply with an ICJ Ruling?
11:51 International Responses to a Genocide Ruling?

*SOURCES AND FURTHER READING*
International Court of Justice | Israel Genocide Case
What Will the International Court of Justice Order on Genocide in Gaza? | Lawfare
Mark Regev Interview | LBC

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- Some of the links above are affiliate links. These pay a small commission if you make a purchase. This helps to support the channel and will be at no additional cost to you.

#Israel #SouthAfrica #Gaza

[JamesKerLindsay]

South Africa’s genocide case against Israel has been called one of the most important cases to have ever come before the International Court of Justice. But what do you think will happen? Will the Court find that Israel has committed genocide or otherwise broken the Genocide Convention? And what will Israel’s allies do if it does? As always, I look forward to hearing your thoughts and comments below.

[blackwatertv]

Why are people denying this? You can literally read/see the statements from Israeli officials and troops on the ground. That akin to genocidal rhetoric and actions

[captainhaddock]

If the court actually decides in South Africa's favor, my country, Germany, will have a lot of explaining to do. You knows, why it seems to always stand on the wrong side of history.

[ahrjay]

I've consumed days of conflict content, and this is the first person, that lays it out, flat, unbiased and without lean. Exceptional, literally

[haroomaayaa]

Thanks, to see a people like you who speaks and stand for truth.

[Lucy-jzsg]

If Israel isn’t guilty we might as well ditch the Law.

[Ricky_Baldy]

Hi James, just a quick question. How would colossal reputational damage affect Israel? They dont seem to care what anyone thinks, even the US. And given that the US could be culpable, as they supplied the arms, the two could just thumb their nose to the rest of the world, like after the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan.

[anotherbacklog]

Not surprising that countries in opposition of South Africa (US, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Australia) have performed various level of ‘atrocities’ towards population under colonial rules.
While many countries supporting South Africa were on the receiving end of such atrocities, few countries, like Indonesia and Turkey stood out as they had their fair share of unpleasant history towards particular ethnic group.

Only thing that surprised me was Ireland’s stance. It seems to have forgotten its long history of struggle.

[Ksn]

Denying that a Holocaust is taking place in Gaza is akin to Holocaust denial that took place during the Second World War

[kth]

The west has supported quite a few genocides in the past for geopolitical expediency. Indonesia in 60s or Bangladesh genocide in 70s... so they definitely have form.

[oliveoil]

Well sadly, most of the world didn’t get to see the first day because the big and bought news media did not air it nor barely spoke of it.

[tyronejoshua]

Always looking forward to professor Ker-Lindsay's video on fridays.

[veraxiana]

If it's a genocide or not shouldn't be up for debate for anyone paying attention quite frankly, entertaining arguments against calling what's an obvious genocide a genocide is just an insult to our intelligence

[KishorPasha]

“You take my water, burn my olive trees, destroy my house, take my job, steal my land, imprison my father, kill my mother, bombard my country, starve us all, humiliate us all, but I am to blame: I shot a rocket back.” - Chomsky

[Mankorra_Gomorrah]

What’s really unfortunate is that no matter what the court says this won’t end. If the court clears Israel of genocide the countries, and people, supporting South Africa will just say that “the Americans/Jews got to the justices and intimidated/threatened them to give the answer that they want.” But if the court sided with South Africa Israel will likely just withdraw from the court entirely and maybe the UNGA will try and pass some form of resolution against them I’d say it’s unlikely that Israel will face any effective punishment for a ruling against them.

[Unami]

A ruling against Israel would simply pull back the curtain of corruption that infects the United Nations for all to see. Many in the west would be absolutely shocked at the level of corruption at the UN. And the biggest tragedy is that young people from western countries who are so idealistic, go work for the UN and leave there so disillusioned at what they see.

[David-bcrh]

"...Netanyahu made a similar point at a Likud faction meeting in early 2019, when he was quoted as saying that those who oppose a Palestinian state should support the transfer of funds to Gaza, because maintaining the separation between the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank and Hamas in Gaza would prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state."
-The Times of Israel

[gkm]

GAZA, A Textbook Case of Genocide: Israeli accountability & U.S, UK. Complicity

[runwayedge]

The more scary thing is, if the court rules in favor of the occupiers.

[buddadavid]

We love South Africa for loving the people of Gaza