South Africa ICJ Submission Spurs Genocide
Amnesty International urges other states to pressure Israel to end Gaza genocide, citing South Africa's ICJ evidence on non-compliance.
South Africa has submitted evidence to the International Court of Justice documenting Israel's failure to comply with the court's legally binding provisional orders in the genocide case. Amnesty International stated today that this submission must spur other states to pressure Israel to end its genocide against Palestinians in Gaza.
Amnesty's regional director, Heba Morayef, said Israeli authorities have inflicted irreparable damage on Palestinian rights since the ICJ's first provisional measures in January 2024. She accused Israel of acting in utter disregard of the court's orders and its obligations under international law.
A Call for State Action
Heba Morayef called South Africa's action an outlier. She said the South African submission is an outlier in a crowded field of states who have failed to take action to prevent Israel's genocide in Gaza, and in some cases enabled it. Many third states have sustained Israel's impunity by failing to enforce the court's measures or by providing diplomatic cover, financial resources, and material support.
Morayef argued the international community has shown apathy toward Israel's unlawful occupation and apartheid system. This includes an ethnic cleansing campaign against Palestinians in Area C of the occupied West Bank.
Ongoing Violations of ICJ Orders
Israeli authorities continue to deliberately impose conditions calculated to bring about the physical destruction of Palestinians in Gaza. They impose severe restrictions on essential supplies. This includes medical supplies, diverse food, adequate fuel, and reconstruction materials. These actions violate the ICJ's January 2024 order to enable basic services and humanitarian assistance.
Israel also blocks access to Gaza for international media, human rights investigators, and UN-mandated bodies. It denies the International Committee of the Red Cross access to Palestinian detainees. Morayef said this masks the horror of Israel's conduct and violates the order to preserve evidence.
Morayef stated that by failing to investigate, let alone prosecute, any high-ranking politician who issued genocidal statements and emboldening the ongoing spread of dehumanizing rhetoric by senior Israeli politicians, Israel continues to violate the order to prevent and punish public incitement to genocide.
The Grim Reality in Gaza
Despite a reduction in attacks since a so-called ceasefire in October 2025, deadly Israeli air strikes, mass destruction, forced displacement, and killings continue. At least 1,303 Palestinians, including over 300 children, have been killed by Israeli attacks since that ceasefire.
Tens of thousands live with life-changing injuries and mental harm, denied long-term treatment. With nearly the entire population displaced, Israel blocks reconstruction and deploys troops across nearly 65% of Gaza. This prevents displaced Palestinians from returning to their homes east of an ever-shifting yellow line.
Provisional Measures and Non-Compliance
The ICJ found in January 2024 that the right of Palestinians in Gaza to be protected from genocide was plausible. It issued binding provisional measures. The court issued three sets of measures in January, March, and May 2024.
| Order Date | Key Provisional Measures Directed at Israel |
|---|---|
| January 2024 | Prevent acts of genocide; prevent and punish public incitement to genocide; enable basic services and humanitarian assistance; preserve evidence. |
| March 2024 | Reiterated the requirement to enable basic services and humanitarian assistance. |
| May 2024 | Reiterated previous measures; called to halt military offensive in Rafah that may inflict conditions of physical destruction. |
In its May 2024 order, the court called on Israel to halt its military offensive in Rafah. Israel failed to comply and destroyed most of Rafah. It has imposed siege-like conditions and continued relentless bombardment. Since the 2025 ceasefire, Israel has refused to take measures to reverse the devastating impacts of its acts.
Amnesty International calls on all states to pressure Israel to end violations, implement the ICJ's measures, stop arms transfers, and end economic relations contributing to the unlawful occupation. It specifically calls on South Africa to suspend trade agreements with Israel that risk contributing to human rights violations, including seaborne thermal coal shipments.
