ICJ to Hold Public Hearings over Israel’s Military Assault on Rafah

SEAToday.com, The Hague - The UN International Court of Justice (ICJ) will hold public hearings on Thursday and Friday, May 16-17, regarding additional provisional measures sought by South Africa as part of its genocide case against Israel.

The upcoming hearings will discuss the additional measures, requested by South Africa on May 10, over Israel’s ongoing military assault on Rafah. In the ICJ’s statement, South Africa’s representatives will be present in Thursday’s hearing, while Israel’s representatives on Friday.

In its request, South Africa highlighted 3 “gravest and most urgent risks”. First, Rafah is the last habitable population center in Gaza, currently refuging 1.5 million displaced Palestinians. Second, by seizing control of Rafah and Karem Abu Salem crossing, Israel fully controls entry and exit into Gaza. Third, the remaining population and medical facilities are at extreme risk, given recent evidence of mass graves and mass destruction in multiple medical complexes.

On all three factors, South Africa urges for intervention and investigations.

South Africa’s case against Israel was filed at the ICJ on December last year, regarding the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip. The court had previously issued measures twice, on January 26 and March 28, 2024.