ICC Vice President Condemns Court's Treatment of Israel in Genocide Case

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has come under fire for its handling of a case brought by South Africa accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza. In a dissenting opinion, ICJ Vice President Julia Sebutinde criticized the court for requiring Israel to work on the Sabbath and for not giving it sufficient time to respond to the allegations.

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has drawn criticism for its handling of a case brought by South Africa accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza. In a dissenting opinion, ICJ Vice President Julia Sebutinde criticized the court for requiring Israel to work on the Sabbath and for not giving it sufficient time to respond to the allegations.

Sebutinde, who is Ugandan, objected to the court's decision to hold oral hearings on the case on dates that were not convenient for Israel's preferred counsel. She also argued that the court's ruling, which partially restricts Israel's offensive in Rafah, is "susceptible to ambiguity and could be misunderstood or misconstrued as ordering an indefinite, unilateral cease-fire."

Sebutinde also urged the court to "avoid reacting to every shift in the conflict and refrain from micromanaging the hostilities in the Gaza Strip, including Rafah." She argued that the court's initial ruling "does not entirely prohibit the Israeli military from operating in Rafah" and that the court should maintain its judicial integrity by allowing Israel to defend itself against the allegations of genocide.

The judges' ruling on Friday stopped short of ordering a full cease-fire across the entire Palestinian territory, and Israel is unlikely to comply with the court's ruling. Friday's decision comes just days after Norway, Ireland, and Spain said they would recognize the Palestinian state, and the chief prosecutor of a separate international court sought arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as well as leaders of Hamas.

Since Oct. 7, Israeli bombardments and ground offensives in Gaza have killed more than 35,000 Palestinians, according to the Hamas-run Ministry of Health, which doesn't distinguish between combatants and civilians. Israel launched its war in Gaza after Hamas' Oct. 7 attack in which militants stormed into southern Israel, killed about 1,200 people — mostly civilians — and abducted about 250. Israel says around 100 hostages are still captive in Gaza, along with the bodies of around 30 more.

The ICJ's ruling has been met with mixed reactions. Some have praised the court for standing up to Israel, while others have criticized the court for overstepping its authority. The court's decision is likely to have a significant impact on the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.

In response to the ICJ's ruling, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the court of "out to demonize Israel." Netanyahu said that the court's decision was "a mockery of justice" and that it "will only encourage terrorism."

The Israeli government has also said that it will not comply with the court's ruling. Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said that the court's decision was "irrelevant" and that Israel would continue to defend itself against Hamas attacks.

The Palestinian Authority has welcomed the court's ruling. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said that the ruling was a "victory for justice" and that it would help to end the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian territories.

The ICJ's ruling is a significant development in the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinians. The court's decision is likely to have a major impact on the future of the conflict.