“The devastation we submit … is intended to and has laid waste to Gaza beyond any acceptable legal, let alone humane justification,” said advocate of the high court of South Africa, Adila Hassim, as they outlined South Africa’s case against Israel in the International Courts of Justice at The Hague. South Africa has brought a case to the ICJ accusing Israel of committing genocide in its military response to the 7 October Hamas attack in which 1,200 Israelis, mainly civilians, were killed. The case refers to ways they believe Israel has violated the UN’s Genocide Convention, including the mass killing of civilians and what it alleges is an assault on the health system and the imposition of “conditions on Gaza that cannot sustain life”. “All of these acts individually and collectively form a calculated pattern of conduct by Israel indicating a genocidal intent,” Hassim told the court. Israel has described South Africa’s case as “baseless” and a “blood libel”, and will have three hours at the court tomorrow to oppose it. To find out more tap the link in bio