CAPE TOWN (MNTV) – South Africa has accused Israel of disregarding legally binding directives issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in connection with the war in Gaza, formally submitting a dossier documenting what it says are continued violations.
The country’s Department of International Relations and Cooperation said Friday that Pretoria had presented the evidence to the court after determining that Israel had failed to comply with three orders issued during the proceedings.
In a filing submitted Tuesday, South Africa said Israel had not fulfilled the court’s orders and vowed to pursue “all avenues available” to secure what it described as Tel Aviv’s full and immediate compliance with the Genocide Convention.
Pretoria also warned that Palestinians’ rights in Gaza could be “destroyed before it renders its final decision,” arguing that such an outcome would raise broader questions about the authority and legitimacy of the ICJ.
According to the dossier, at least 73,407 Palestinians had been killed and another 174,335 wounded by August, figures South Africa said amount to more than 10% of the Palestinian population.
The submission further alleged that Israeli forces have continued to kill Palestinians despite the announcement of a ceasefire, with an average of one Palestinian child reportedly killed each day since the truce was declared.
South Africa also cited a more than threefold rise in miscarriages among Palestinian women in 2026, attributing the increase to conditions created by the conflict.
The dossier accuses Israel of arbitrarily detaining and deporting Palestinians, alleging that some detainees were subsequently subjected to torture, sexual and gender-based violence and other forms of cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.
Pretoria further alleged that efforts to document violations have been obstructed through the killing of local journalists and restrictions preventing UN-mandated investigative bodies from entering Gaza.
South Africa’s genocide case against Israel
South Africa brought its case against Israel before the ICJ on Dec. 29, 2023, accusing it of violating obligations under the 1948 Genocide Convention.
Pretoria asked the court to impose provisional measures, citing the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the urgency of protecting Palestinians covered by the convention.
The ICJ subsequently issued orders on Jan. 26, March 28 and May 24, 2024, directing Israel to take measures to prevent acts prohibited under the Genocide Convention and to safeguard Palestinians from such acts.
Among the measures ordered by the court was a requirement concerning Israel’s military operations in Rafah, as well as an obligation to report periodically on steps taken to comply with the court’s directives.
The ICJ, based in The Hague, is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations and is responsible for settling disputes between states and issuing advisory opinions on questions of international law.
