Viewpoint

Disappointing ICJ Decision Gives Free Rein to Israel’s Genocide

Date: 18 May 2024 - 22:36

News ID: ۱۲۷۴۷۳

By: Kayhan Int’l Staff Writer

While innocent unarmed civilians are being slaughtered in hundreds every day as the Zionist war machine equipped with an unending supply of lethal weapons from the US, continues one of the worst genocides in history, the 2-day hearing at the second session in Hague of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) despite the demand from people all over the world for immediate end to the holocaust of the Palestinians, did not demand Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza and end of the war.
In its first session on January 26, the ICJ had delivered an interim judgement, after hearing South Africa’s detailed and documented presentation of undeniable evidence of genocide, by merely ruling: “In the Court’s view, the facts and circumstances are sufficient to conclude that at least some of the rights (of the Palestinians) claimed by South Africa and for which it is seeking protection (of civilians) are plausible.”
The ruling, to which 17 judges contributed – with some of them disagreeing because of intense US-Israeli behind the scenes pressures – although it was welcomed by the international community in expectation of a clear verdict in future, had failed to do justice to the people of Gaza.
This week’s ruling again shows that all is not well in supposed hall of justice as the ICJ which failed to properly respond to the presentation of facts of the “new and horrific stage” that Israel’s unabated genocide has reached – killing so far 35,500 defenceless people and seriously injuring more than 80,000 (many of them maimed for life).
The court was requested by South Africa’s ambassador to the Netherlands, Vusimuzi Madonsela, to order Israel to “immediately, totally and unconditionally, withdraw the Israeli army from the entirety of the Gaza Strip.”
It, however, didn’t, thus allowing the devilish duo of Israel and the US to intensify the organized massacre of the million-plus people squeezed into Rafah.
Analysts have expressed regret that in view of the slow procedure coupled with the negative attitude of some of the ICJ judges with clear bias against Palestinians that it might take years before the court can rule on the underlying genocide charge, although a request for emergency measures is expected next week.
It is worth noting that in addition to the mass protests at universities throughout the US which have spread to Europe and all over the world, several US politicians have resigned in horror at the brutalities of the Israelis, while lawyers and laymen have expressed shock at the worsening plight of the people of Gaza.
Last April, some 600 British lawyers including four former Supreme Court justices, signed a letter to the UK Prime Minister, asking him to stop arms sales to Israel and referring to “a plausible risk of genocide”.
It is now clear and beyond an iota of doubt that genocide is fully evident in Gaza as Israeli tanks, heavy artillery, aircraft and war ships are pounding Rafah from all direction with no way for the trapped people to escape.
In such a situation if the ICJ continues to drag its feet instead of a clear verdict it will ruin its reputation, leaving the people of Gaza to the mercy of the merciless Zionist aggressors who might not stop the genocide even if the figures of the dead were to cross the 100,000-mark.