South Africa requested the international Court of Justice (ICJ) order Israel to stop its onslaught in Gaza immediately

South Africa has initiated a case and requested the ICJ order Israel to stop its onslaught in Gaza immediately accusing it of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza after nearly three months of relentless Israeli bombardment has killed more than 21,500 people and caused widespread destruction in the besieged enclave. That's not to mention the historical casualties. Stats show that the overwhelming amount of casualties are Palestinian and yet the powers that be still seem to be backing Israel.

A lot of South Africans feel this is Apartheid 2.0 which we of course are extremely sensitive to given our history.

A lot of the countries that still have power politically today reflect the old colonial regime. It's notable that previously colonised countries seem to be backing Palestine.

Thoughts?

I read it in the news paper and I commend South Africa for this initiative. Israel has been waging genocide on the Palestinians for decades now, and it has to stop. It should've been stopped decades ago. The reason Israel still gets away with it is continuous western and particularly US support.

Israel's propaganda, that Israel equals Jews, seems to have been very successful over the years: any criticism of Israel's terror is being called out as anti-semitism. But I'd say that the attempt to equate the two, combined with Israel's terror, is actually one of the reasons that anti-semitism is on the rise again.

Israel is a 100% puppet colonial power of the western nations to keep a foot in the Middle East. Gaza is an internment camp.

I’m really happy to see the shift in attitude over the years in America. When I was a kid speaking out about the Israeli occupation w got you labeled a Nazi. Now thanks to social media and the internet giving people access to both the history and the modern day horrors of the area people are changing their minds.

There’s a particularly strong surge in anti-Zionist ideology from Jewish Americans who publicly condemn the acts of Israel and the US government who supplies them with billions of dollars of murder machines.

A lot of the unconditional US support for Israel comes from the evangelical white Christian Nationalists, who publicly support Israel, while hating Jews (think Charlottesville). Republicans will never let America back away from Israel because their right-wing base would have their heads.

Quote by Beffer

A lot of the unconditional US support for Israel comes from the evangelical white Christian Nationalists, who publicly support Israel, while hating Jews (think Charlottesville). Republicans will never let America back away from Israel because their right-wing base would have their heads.

It's not just Republicans. Look at Biden.

Quote by noll

It's not just Republicans. Look at Biden.

I would argue that Biden is simply a 1980’s Republican. Just both parties have ratchet further and further to the right for the last few decades.

Biden is unequivocally a white Christian nationalist.

Quote by Beffer

A lot of the unconditional US support for Israel comes from the evangelical white Christian Nationalists, who publicly support Israel, while hating Jews (think Charlottesville). Republicans will never let America back away from Israel because their right-wing base would have their heads.

I know this is a valid point internally but when it comes to foreign policy it really only matters what the officials that were elected choose to do.

Quote by noll

But I'd say that the attempt to equate the two, combined with Israel's terror, is actually one of the reasons that anti-semitism is on the rise again.

I would agree with this.

It begs the question, how long would Israel last if it was Muslim.

The case against Israel:

Quote by PrincessC

The case against Israel:

The video ain't working, for me at least. But I assume it was this video:

Quote by noll

The video ain't working, for me at least. But I assume it was this video:

That’s the one, thanks!

“In the court’s view, however, “at least some of the acts and omissions alleged by South Africa to have been committed by Israel in Gaza appear to be capable of falling within the provisions of the [Genocide] Convention,” Justice Donoghue said. ”

(https://time.com/6588931/icj-ruling-israel-genocidal-acts-gaza-south-africa/)

Quote by PrincessC

“In the court’s view, however, “at least some of the acts and omissions alleged by South Africa to have been committed by Israel in Gaza appear to be capable of falling within the provisions of the [Genocide] Convention,” Justice Donoghue said. ”

(https://time.com/6588931/icj-ruling-israel-genocidal-acts-gaza-south-africa/)

I wonder if it'll have any effect, but hopefully some of the countries that have supported Israel are paying attention.

Quote by noll

I wonder if it'll have any effect, but hopefully some of the countries that have supported Israel are paying attention.

When the UN passes resolutions against countries, there’s only something like a 40% rate of compliance. It’s an organization with very tiny teeth. Only the little guys have to be worried. The US balks UN rulings everyday. Good example was our illegal blockade of Cuba. Something like 36 years in a row it was ruled illegal by the UN.

If the UN had the balls to even pass a resolution demanding a ceasefire, Israel had already said they would ignore it.

And they would.

And th US will continue to supply weapons of death to help them continue their genocide.

Just a clarification on that Cuba statement: The resolution against the US has passed almost unanimously for the past 30 years in the UN. The most recent vote had 97% of all nations vote it was illegal. The only two votes against was by the USA itself and it's a puppet government of Israel. Ukraine abstained since they were currently getting the bulk of their military funding from the US. In past years Ukraine joined the other countries in voting it was illegal.

https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2023/11/03/us-blockade-cuba-vote-un/

Trying to find the article I read a few weeks ago with that 40% stat above. It was laid out in an article about South Africa calling out Israel for genocide. I'll post it here if I can find it.

edit

Here's that article. The section talking about compliance with provisional rulings near the end:

https://www.npr.org/2024/01/12/1224363666/israel-hamas-war-palestinians-south-africa-genocide-case-court

Quote by noll

I wonder if it'll have any effect, but hopefully some of the countries that have supported Israel are paying attention.

I don’t think anybody genuinely believed much would change outside of public perception. Now they have to let in aide which will immediately improve the lives of the Palestinians and countries on the fence with their foreign policy now have a reason to be critical because they can cite the UN in the face of the scary team Israel has backing it.

Quote by RowanThorn

Just a clarification on that Cuba statement: The resolution against the US has passed almost unanimously for the past 30 years in the UN. The most recent vote had 97% of all nations vote it was illegal. The only two votes against was by the USA itself and it's a puppet government of Israel. Ukraine abstained since they were currently getting the bulk of their military funding from the US. In past years Ukraine joined the other countries in voting it was illegal.

https://geopoliticaleconomy.com/2023/11/03/us-blockade-cuba-vote-un/

Trying to find the article I read a few weeks ago with that 40% stat above. It was laid out in an article about South Africa calling out Israel for genocide. I'll post it here if I can find it.

edit

Here's that article. The section talking about compliance with provisional rulings near the end:

https://www.npr.org/2024/01/12/1224363666/israel-hamas-war-palestinians-south-africa-genocide-case-court

I don’t know if I expected some backing really, I just think if I was desperate and my whole life was being bombed I’d probably appreciate the visibility.

The post-colonial world is particularly critical of the UN. Nobody thinks the international system suddenly has a conscience. That being said, they sanctioned the shit out of South Africa during apartheid which put huge pressure on the regime, I remain hopeful.

As a sub note for this discussion, I think one of the most telling votes in the history of the UN was when they voted on if access to food was a basic human right. There were only two votes that were a no. The US and Israel both voted that access to food isn’t a human right, and I’ll never understand the mind state you would need to come up with that sick and twisted logic.

And good point by Princess, the only real affect of the trial will be greater global support which will be the only inroad to change.