A protester holds up a baby doll and stands outside the International Court of Justice in support of the Palestinian people as South Africa has requested the court to indicate measures concerning alleged violations of human rights by Israel in the Gaza Strip on January 11, 2024 in The Hague, Netherlands. On January 11 and January 12 at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the judicial body of the United Nations, in The Hague, South Africa seized the ICJ, to ask it to rule on possible acts of "genocide" in the Gaza Strip by Israel. (Photo by Michel Porro/Getty Images) 
South Africa’s team of lawyers are arguing before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) that Israel is violating the 1948 Genocide Convention by trying to destroy part of the Palestinian people through its military assault on Gaza.
Read more in Daily Maverick: How South Africa seeks an order to stop the carnage in Gaza and prevent a genocide
The Nelson Mandela Foundation extended its support to the country’s legal team ahead of their appearance at the ICJ on Thursday.
The foundation wished them “strength and success in their pursuit of truth, justice and peace”
The Nelson Mandela Foundation extends support to the South African legal team as they appear before the International Court of Justice today. Wishing them strength and success in their pursuit of truth, justice and peace. #CeasefireNow pic.twitter.com/PVQ3SbNTsD
— NelsonMandela (@NelsonMandela) January 11, 2024
The Hague
With South Africa’s genocide case on the eyes of the world, supporters of both sides of the case planned marches and rallies in The Hague, according to a Reuters report.
A large number of pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered outside Peace Palace in The Hague, where the case is being heard on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Pro-Israel protesters also marched in the city centre early on Thursday morning, waving Israeli and Dutch flags and holding posters with images of people taken hostage by Hamas.
Palestinian sympathisers rally during the hearing of South Africa's genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice in The Hague on 11 January 2024. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Robin Utrecht)
The South African Jewish Board of Deputies said South Africa’s case at the ICJ “can only be interpreted as antiSemitic” and said the government has “contempt” for the Jewish community’s concerns about antiSemitism. The South African Zionist Federation called the case a “cynical misuse” of the ICJ.
President Donoghue and other judges at the International Court of Justice before the hearing of the genocide case against Israel, brought by South Africa, at The Hague in The Netherlands on 11 January 2024. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Remko de Waal)
Occupied West Bank
On the eve of the ICJ hearings, scores of Palestinians gathered in front of the statue of Nelson Mandela in the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah, to rally in support of South Africa’s genocide case against Israel. With South African and Palestinian flags aloft, supporters held placards reading “Enkosi South Africa”, “Stop the genocide” and “Thank you South Africa”.
The supporters also sang the South African national anthem.
Palestinians gathered at the #NelsonMandela square in Ramallah, singing the #SouthAfrican?? national anthem ahead of the #ICJ hearing at the Hague tomorrow. #Gratitude #Solidarity #Humanrights #CEASEFIRE_NOW pic.twitter.com/1cqAN8XeyB
— Clayson Monyela (@ClaysonMonyela) January 10, 2024
South Africa
About 100 people gathered outside the Western Cape High Court on Thursday morning to express their support for South Africa’s legal team at the ICJ, GroundUp reported.
Read more in Daily Maverick: Israel-Palestine War
The gathering was organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) and Lawyers for Palestine, and included several civil society organisations. Political party representatives from the ANC and Rise Mzansi, and activist and independent political candidate Zackie Achmat also attended.
Read more in Daily Maverick: Party divisions on SA genocide case against Israel – newbies Change Starts Now, Rise Mzansi in support, Maimane’s Bosa says it’s a ‘misstep’
Chants of “From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be Free” and “Gaza don’t you cry, Palestine will never die”, were heard among the crowd, according to GroundUp.
Residents of Bo-Kaap in Cape Town also held an interfaith prayer service on Wednesday evening, praying for the success of South Africa’s case.
Interfaith Prayer session in #bokaap ,praying for the success of the South African government's application at the International Justice Court.
??????????#StopZionism #FreePalestine #israelgenocidalstate pic.twitter.com/NbtSdmN1d1
— MP Faiez Jacobs ?? (@Faiezj) January 10, 2024
Several pro-Palestine actions are planned in Cape Town this week, including a Shabbat against genocide in Palestine, organised by the South African Jews for a Free Palestine on Friday, and a global day of action for Palestine on Saturday organised by the PSC. DM
A Palestinian activist before the hearing at the International Court of Justice on a genocide complaint by South Africa against Israel. (Photo: Remko de Waal / ANP MAG / ANP via AFP)
People gather at the Western Cape High Court on 11 January 2024 in support of South Africa's ICJ case for an end against genocide and justice for the Palestinian people. (Photo: Gallo Images / ER Lombard)
Supporters of South Africa's ICJ genocide case outside the Western Cape High Court on 11 January 2024. (Photo: Gallo Images / ER Lombard)
Activist Zackie Achmat at a gathering in solidarity with South Africa's ICJ case outside the Western Cape High Court on 11 January 2024. (Photo: Gallo Images / ER Lombard)
Palestinian sympathisers rally during demonstrations as the hearing at the International Court of Justice gets under way on 11 January 2024. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Robin Utrecht)
Justice Minister Ronald Lamola at the International Court of Justice ahead of the hearing of the genocide case against Israel on 11 January 2024. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Remko de Waal)
Justice Minister Ronald Lamola (middle) and Vusimuzi Madonsela (right), South African ambassador to the Netherlands, at the International Court of Justice on 11 January 2024. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Remko de Waal)
Israeli sympathisers gather as the genocide hearing at the International Court of Justice begins at The Hague in The Netherlands on 11 January 2024. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Robin Utrecht)
Tal Becker (left), legal counsellor for Israel's foreign ministry, and lawyer Malcolm Shaw at the International Court of Justice before the hearing of the genocide case against Israel, brought by South Africa. (Photo: EPA-EFE / Remko de Waal)
A protester holds up a baby doll outside the International Court of Justice in The Hague in support of the Palestinian people while South Africa argues its genocide case against Israel on 11 January 2024. (Photo: Michel Porro / Getty Images)
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