General Discussion

Former head of ICJ explains ruling on genocide case against Israel brought by S Africa

Joan Donoghue, who has just retired as president of the International Court of Justice (ICJ), spoke to BBC Hardtalk’s Stephen Sackur about the case brought by South Africa to the ICJ over alleged violations of the Genocide Convention by Israel.

Ms Donoghue explained that the court decided the Palestinians had a “plausible right” to be protected from genocide and that South Africa had the right to present that claim in the court.

She said that, contrary to some reporting, the court did not make a ruling on whether the claim of genocide was plausible, but it did emphasise in its order that there was a risk of irreparable harm to the Palestinian right to be protected from genocide.
26 April 2024

Ireland will intervene in South Africa's genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice in The Hague in an effort to broaden the definition of genocide.

Ireland's Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Micheal Martin said he had secured the cabinet's approval to intervene in the case against Israel, and said that the intervention would be filed later this month.

In a press release, Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs said that "By legally intervening in South Africa's case, Ireland will be asking the ICJ to broaden its interpretation of what constitutes the commission of genocide."