By: Mercy Peter
The Palestinian Ambassador to Nigeria, Abu Shawesh at the weekend expressed confidence that the International Court of Justice sitting in the Hague, Netherlands, will on fews days take decision on the South African petition.
Shawesh also called for total halt to the Israeli continous bombardment of Gaza.
The envoy also called on other countries to join in calling for a halt to Israeli military action on his people which has led to over 25000 death since 7th October 2023 retaliation attack.
Shawesh said, “South Africa has brought the matter to the court as a matter of extreme urgency and with a priority and stipulation to order Israel to halt and suspend its onslaught campaign in order to protect the Palestinian people and preserve the evidence.
“We expect to hear the decision in the coming days. We must wait until then to know whether the court is convinced by the evidence that SA presented.”
The envoy also commended South Africa for instituting the case at Hague, Netherlands.
In its application to the ICJ, South Africa based its accusation both on actions taken by Israel throughout the war and
controversial comments made by Israeli officials regarding Palestinians in Gaza and how they should be treated.
Israel is a signatory to the Genocide Convention adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948 and is therefore subject to the jurisdiction of the ICJ, a UN organ, and its rulings. Under the terms of the convention, Israel is obligated to send representatives to the court following the submission of a filing against it.
Shawesh added, “At the outset, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to the political leaders and people of South Africa for their strong moral stance and for standing steadfastly in support of international law and justice by suing Israel for its genocide of the Palestinian people, the occupying power, before the United Nations International Court of Justice.
” In this regard, we also urge all countries that side with Israel’s acts of genocide and are neglecting to condemn Israel’s war crimes to acknowledge what is actually happening and to review their moral and legal position. “
