South Africa launches case at The Hague accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza

Palestinians salvage belongings from the rubble of a building destroyed in an Israeli strike in Deir al Balah, Gaza Strip on Friday (Adel Hana/AP)

South Africa launched a case at the United Nations’ top court on Friday accusing Israel of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza and asking the court to order Israel to halt its attacks.

South Africa’s submission to the International Court of Justice alleges that “acts and omissions by Israel … are genocidal in character” as they are committed with the intent “to destroy Palestinians in Gaza as a part of the broader Palestinian national, racial and ethnical group”.