Commending South Africa Actions at the International Court of Justice to Address Genocide in Palestine​

Canada has a notable record of actively championing genocide accountability at the ICJ by supporting persecuted populations at risk. This track record serves as a compelling precedent, urging Canada to extend its human rights obligations by taking similar action in support of Palestine. “Canadians are now relying on Canada’s government to rally behind South Africa's efforts to seek justice for the Palestinian people. As Canada did for Rohingya and the Myanmar population, we must support the ICJ proceedings as a collective responsibility to address Israel’s genocidal acts,” said Taha Ghayyur, Executive Director for Justice For All Canada. 

22,313 Palestinians have been killed and 57,296 wounded in Israeli bombardment of Gaza since October 7, 2023. Two-thirds of those killed are women and children. High-ranking Israeli officials, including Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, have publicly expressed their intention to deprive civilians in Gaza of food, water, and fuel. According to Human Rights Watch, Israeli forces are using starvation as a method of warfare, intentionally blocking aid delivery. The International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH), an elected body of global legal experts and human rights defenders, adopted a resolution recognizing Israel’s deliberate targeting of civilians as a genocide. The FIDH cited Israel’s use of white phosphorus in densely populated areas and the imposition of a "total siege" as exacerbating the already dire living conditions in Gaza.

South Africa's petition to the ICJ finally highlights the imperative to ensure states committing such crimes against humanity are made responsible under the 1948 Genocide Convention. The legal foundation outlined by South Africa uses established international legal mechanisms to address ongoing human rights violations against Palestinian civil society. Specifically, the petition focuses on urgent humanitarian concerns and calls for an immediate cessation of Israel's military campaign in Gaza. The petition also urges the restoration of essential supplies, including food, water, medicine, and humanitarian aid, to safeguard the well-being of vulnerable populations. 

Justice For All Canada reiterates our prior warnings and concerns regarding the risk of genocide in Gaza. South Africa's legal action at the ICJ aligns with our longstanding assessment of the situation. We implore the Canadian government to support the ICJ application as a proactive measure to prevent further harm to the Palestinian population.

Since before October 7th, 2023, Canada's relationship with Israel has been characterized by subservience and prioritization of Israeli interests over the well-being of its citizens in Gaza. Canadian diplomats, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, have been more concerned with satisfying Israel's requests than addressing the dire humanitarian circumstances and atrocities faced by Palestinians during the conflict. Bringing the Gaza issue before the ICJ presents a much-needed opportunity to instead prioritize human rights over political considerations.