Photos by Anadolu serving as evidence in South Africa's genocide case against Israel

By Feyzullah Yarimbas

South Africa is using photo evidence captured by Anadolu to show that Israel committed war crimes in its onslaught on the Gaza Strip as it brings its genocide case against Tel Aviv at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).

In the case file submitted by South Africa to the international court based in The Hague, photos by Anadolu, also featured in a report by Amnesty International, are serving as evidence to help prove Israel's use of banned white phosphorus munitions in Gaza, one of the most densely populated regions in the world.

Among the evidence presented to the top UN court is a photograph taken by Anadolu photojournalist Mustafa Al-Kharouf on Oct. 9.

The image displays artillery shells labeled with the US Department of Defense Identification Code for incendiary white phosphorus-based munitions (D528).

South Africa's submission highlights that over 55,000 Palestinians, mainly children and women, were injured in Israel's attacks on Gaza since Oct. 7.

Typical injuries include burns and loss of limbs, while the file underscores reports of Israel using white phosphorus in densely populated areas, noting its potential for severe burns, bone damage, and re-ignition after initial treatment.

It highlights the absence of functional hospitals in northern Gaza, emphasizing that the injured lack access to treatment or surgery, often leaving them with no alternative but to await death.

South Africa filed the case at the ICJ on Friday, seeking provisional measures, alleging that Israel violated the 1948 UN Genocide Convention with its actions in Gaza since Oct. 7.

The application states that Israel's actions and omissions are genocidal in nature because they have been committed with the specific intent of destroying the Palestinians in Gaza.

Under Article 9 of the Genocide Convention, any state party can file a case against another state at the ICJ if the latter violates the convention's articles.

The ICJ can issue urgent provisional measures to halt the mentioned violations until the conclusion of legal proceedings.

- Anadolu documents Israel's crimes in 'Evidence' book

Earlier this month, Anadolu published a book titled "Evidence," containing visuals that expose possibly criminal actions by Israel in Gaza.

While many countries, especially the Western nations, remained silent over the attacks that Israel conducted without distinguishing between women and children, some countries put forward the thesis of "insufficient evidence" for the massacres.

To counter these assertions, Anadolu decided to turn the footage of photojournalists and cameramen who have been in the field since the beginning of the attacks, into a book to be evidence in international law.

The book, prepared by an expert team in Turkish, English, and Arabic, was published under the title "Evidence."

It features photos of white phosphorus artillery shells, a violation of the UN Convention on Conventional Weapons, used by the Israeli army in densely populated civilian areas of Gaza.

It also includes an introduction by French lawyer Gilles Devers, who advocates for Palestinian victims at the International Criminal Court.

Devers considers the photos and videos taken by Anadolu reporters as "crucial evidence exposing the committed crimes clearly."

Anadolu's photos and videos proving Israel's war crimes have been used as evidence in applications to the International Criminal Court by lawyers worldwide advocating for Palestinian rights.