Expert: New Israeli attacks may affect genocide goals

At the end of December 2023, just under three months after the start of the war, South Africa filed a lawsuit to the International Court of Justice in The Hague, ICJ.

The large number of civilians killed in the war against terrorist Hamas in Gaza means that Israel was guilty of genocide against Palestinians, the accusation sounded.

A month later, the Court decided that Israel must take provisional measures to avoid genocide and improve the humanitarian situation.

The final verdict will probably take a few more years, according to Pål Wrange, professor of international law at Stockholm University. Recently, Israel was given another six months to submit its defense against the charges.

– It is mainly that states want a long time to send their submissions and prepare their oral presentations, he says.

When the ceasefire in Gaza Breed in mid -March this year, Israel announced that the attacks against the strip would be stepped up. Attacks against what Israel has designated as « humanitarian zones » has become increasingly common and the UN alerts that the hunger crisis has deepened since Israel has blocked all aid shipments.

– Probably South Africa’s cause will be strengthened, especially considering the total blockade of recent weeks, says Pål Wrange.

He lifts the event With 15 healthcare and rescue workers, who were shot dead by the Israeli military, as an example of when it has at least looked like Israel has focused on civilians.

– But it should also be said that much of what has happened during the fighting may have pointed to war crimes rather than genocide, he says and continues:

– Trying to starve out the population is a clearer sign of genocide intention.

More than 51,000 people have been killed in Gaza since the start of the war, which began after Hamas terrorist attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, according to the Hamas -controlled Gaza health authorities.

How big is the probability that ICJ judges that Israel has committed genocide?

– I do not think that the court will find that Israel as a state has committed genocide. On the other hand, it will probably find that Israel has not prevented and charged with upset to genocide.

– It may also happen that individual executives have committed documents with a genocide intention.

To show that there is an intention of genocide, it must also be proven that the purpose is to destroy the Palestinians as a group of people – and not just kill many Palestinians, he points out.

How do you decide it?

– It’s difficult. If there are opinions from the commander or high politicians, it is evidence. One could also indirectly draw conclusions about how Israel’s military has set up its actions.

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