The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is now hearing a case brought by South Africa, accusing Israel of genocide. In its application to the ICJ, South Africa “unequivocally condemns” Hamas’s actions and states that its “foreign policy objective [is] the attainment of a durable peace between Israel and the State of Palestine, with two States existing side by side within internationally recognized borders, based on those existing on 4 June 1967.”

          As a legal matter, South Africa alleges that Israel is violating its obligations under the Convention Against Genocide. The ICJ is concerned with establishing the legal responsibility of states, not individuals. The latter task falls to domestic courts and to the International Criminal Court (ICC), which also sits in The Hague.

A treaty The Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide was adopted in 1948; It currently has 153 parties, including Israel and South Africa . Parties to the treaty consent to the ICJ’s jurisdiction over disputes between states parties involving genocide, as well as conspiracy to commit genocide, direct and public incitement to commit genocide, attempt to commit genocide, and complicity in genocide.

LEARNING FROM HOME/ WITHOUT CLASSES/ BASICS

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations (UN). It was established in June 1945 by the Charter of the United Nations and began work in April 1946.

The seat of the Court is at the Peace Palace in The Hague (Netherlands). Of the six principal organs of the United Nations, it is the only one not located in New York (United States of America).

The Court’s role is to settle, in accordance with international law, legal disputes submitted to it by States and to give advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by authorized United Nations organs and specialized agencies.

The Court is composed of 15 judges, who are elected for terms of office of nine years by the United Nations General Assembly and the Security Council. It is assisted by a Registry, its administrative organ. Its official languages are English and French.

Dalveer Bhandari, an India, is judge at ICJ since 2012

Judge Joan E. Donoghue, President of the International Court of Justice