JAMAICA | People’s National Party Backs South Africa’s Move To Take Israel Before The World Court on Genocide Charges

Kingston, Jamaica. January 10, 2023: The People’s National Party has commended the Republic of South Africa for its principled stance in bringing Israel before the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The support came at the Party’s Executive meeting on Monday June 8.

Shadow Minister of Foreign and Regional Affairs Dr. Angela Brown Burke, indicated that the PNP has consistently  supported the South African people against Apartheid  in the past and is now pleased to stand with them in solidarity to honour our historic support for human rights and justice.

She also noted that, “The Application by South Africa to ask the ICJ to order Israel to suspend its military actions in Gaza, cease any genocidal acts or take reasonable measures to prevent genocide, is most appropriate given the killing and wounding of thousands of Palestinians  and displacement and of more than 80% of those living in Gaza, the majority of whom have been women and children.”

This decision by the PNP underscores our commitment to human rights and justice, aligning with our longstanding support for a two-state solution in the Israel-Palestine conflict.  It is also a recognition of the obligations of State Parties to the 1948 Genocide Convention. 

The Government’s silence on this matter is deafening and we also urge them as a State Party to the Genocide Convention to also denounce these acts by Israel and to stand in solidarity with South Africa and the other countries that are supporting this action.

As we support the call for an immediate cessation of military activities, we proudly join other nations in supporting this crucial step towards a peaceful resolution in that region.

ICJ holds hearing Into Charges against Israel on Thursday January 11

In a historic move, Israel, the occupying power, will appear on Thursday, for the first time, before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Dutch city of The Hague, in the lawsuit filed against it by the state of South Africa, which accuses it of committing the crime of collective genocide against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.

According to the lawsuit filed by South Africa on December 29th against the backdrop of Israel’s involvement in “acts of genocide” against our people in the Gaza Strip, the court set January 11 and 12 to hold the hearings.

South Africa submits an 84-page plea in English, in which it presents evidence that Israel, the occupying power, has violated its obligations under the United Nations Charter, and its involvement in committing acts of genocide against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip.

In the case, South Africa asked the International Court of Justice to “indicate interim measures in order to protect against further serious and irreparable harm to the rights of the Palestinian people under the Genocide Convention and to ensure Israel’s compliance with its obligations under the Convention not to engage in, prevent and punish genocide.”

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