South African legal team confident in The Hague ahead of Israel genocide case

By Seda Sevencan

ISTANBUL (AA ) — South Africa's legal team in The Hague, expressed confidence Thursday soon before the beginning of the public hearings in the country's genocide case against Israel.

Speaking to Sophie Mokoena, foreign editor for South Africa's public broadcaster SABC, the delegation's Lead Counsel John Dugard said he was "very, very positive."

Beside him, Raji Sourani, director of the Palestinian Center for Human Rights, said: "We are making history. South Africa is making history for humanity and Palestine."

Under the leadership of Dugard, a former UN special rapporteur on human rights in the occupied Palestinian territories, the South African team will be presenting hard evidence on Thursday in the case at the International Court of Justice, accusing Israel of genocide and violation of the 1948 Genocide Convention with its actions in the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7.

Dugard, viewed as one of South Africa's foremost international legal experts, has experience with the ICJ, having served as an ad hoc judge in 2008.

In its 84-page filing it submitted on last month, South Africa accused Israel of genocide in the Gaza Strip, laying out its case with exhaustive details of the deadly actions since last October, including mass killings and destruction, along with crippling curbs on essentials like water, food, medicine, fuel, shelter and other types of humanitarian assistance.

Over two days, both sides will present their arguments before judges in The Hague.​​​​​​​