Ireland: join South Africa's case against Israel at the ICJ
Ireland: join South Africa's case against Israel at the ICJ
The Issue
Please sign and share this petition as widely as you can. Please don't "chip in". If you'd like to donate I recommend Medical Aid for Palestinians or Doctors without Borders.
Summary
This petition calls on the Government of Ireland, in particular the Taoiseach Simon Harris and Tánaiste Micheál Martin, to sign on to South Africa’s case at the International Court of Justice. As a signatory to the UN Genocide Convention, Ireland is obligated to pursue its enforcement. It is vital for the future of a rules-based international order that Israel is held accountable for its gross breaches of humanitarian law.
Background
In December 2023, South Africa filed a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, accusing it of commiiting crimes of genocide in Gaza. Thirteen months of relentless Israeli bombardment have killed at least 44,000 civilians, mostly women and children, maimed tens of thousands of others, rendered 95% of the population of Gaza homeless, and destroyed almost all of the territory’s civilian infrastructure.
In its application to the court, South Africa described Israel’s actions in Gaza as “genocidal in character because they are intended to bring about the destruction of a substantial part of the Palestinian national, racial and ethnical group”. They include “killing Palestinians in Gaza, causing them serious bodily and mental harm, and inflicting on them conditions of life calculated to bring about their physical destruction.”
South Africa said Israel’s conduct since 7 October 2023 violates the UN’s Genocide Convention, and called for an expedited hearing. The application also requests the court to “protect against further, severe and irreparable harm to the rights of the Palestinian people.”
All 193 member states of the United Nations are parties to the ICJ. Although its rulings are neither binding nor enforceable, unless reinforced by a Security Council resolution, a positive ruling would exert considerable legal and diplomatic pressure on Israel to end its brutal assault on Gaza.
5,853
The Issue
Please sign and share this petition as widely as you can. Please don't "chip in". If you'd like to donate I recommend Medical Aid for Palestinians or Doctors without Borders.
Summary
This petition calls on the Government of Ireland, in particular the Taoiseach Simon Harris and Tánaiste Micheál Martin, to sign on to South Africa’s case at the International Court of Justice. As a signatory to the UN Genocide Convention, Ireland is obligated to pursue its enforcement. It is vital for the future of a rules-based international order that Israel is held accountable for its gross breaches of humanitarian law.
Background
In December 2023, South Africa filed a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in The Hague, accusing it of commiiting crimes of genocide in Gaza. Thirteen months of relentless Israeli bombardment have killed at least 44,000 civilians, mostly women and children, maimed tens of thousands of others, rendered 95% of the population of Gaza homeless, and destroyed almost all of the territory’s civilian infrastructure.
In its application to the court, South Africa described Israel’s actions in Gaza as “genocidal in character because they are intended to bring about the destruction of a substantial part of the Palestinian national, racial and ethnical group”. They include “killing Palestinians in Gaza, causing them serious bodily and mental harm, and inflicting on them conditions of life calculated to bring about their physical destruction.”
South Africa said Israel’s conduct since 7 October 2023 violates the UN’s Genocide Convention, and called for an expedited hearing. The application also requests the court to “protect against further, severe and irreparable harm to the rights of the Palestinian people.”
All 193 member states of the United Nations are parties to the ICJ. Although its rulings are neither binding nor enforceable, unless reinforced by a Security Council resolution, a positive ruling would exert considerable legal and diplomatic pressure on Israel to end its brutal assault on Gaza.
5,853
The Decision Makers
Supporter Voices
Petition Updates
Share this petition
Petition created on 2 January 2024