{"id":14614,"date":"2026-01-19T13:13:12","date_gmt":"2026-01-19T13:13:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/?p=14614"},"modified":"2026-03-21T11:22:16","modified_gmt":"2026-03-21T11:22:16","slug":"south-africa-israel-icj-gaza-genocide-convention","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/south-africa-israel-icj-gaza-genocide-convention\/","title":{"rendered":"Justice Leona Theron on South Africa v\/s Israel at the ICJ: Genocide Convention, International Law, and the Quest for Justice"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"legal-historical-perspective-gaza-conflict\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_Legal_and_Historical_Perspective_on_Accountability_Human_Rights_and_the_Gaza_Conflict\"><\/span>A Legal and Historical Perspective on Accountability, Human Rights, and the Gaza Conflict<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The ongoing war in Gaza and the landmark case brought by South Africa against Israel before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) have generated intense legal, political, and moral debate across the world. At a recent lecture at Notre Dame Law School, <strong>Justice Leona Theron of the South African Constitutional Court<\/strong> provided a detailed and nuanced explanation of the case, its historical context, the legal arguments presented by both sides, and the broader significance of international law in addressing alleged human rights violations. Her address offered valuable insights into how international legal mechanisms function, their limitations, and their potential to shape global accountability.<\/p><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_82_2 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #0c0c0c;color:#0c0c0c\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #0c0c0c;color:#0c0c0c\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/south-africa-israel-icj-gaza-genocide-convention\/#A_Legal_and_Historical_Perspective_on_Accountability_Human_Rights_and_the_Gaza_Conflict\" >A Legal and Historical Perspective on Accountability, Human Rights, and the Gaza Conflict<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/south-africa-israel-icj-gaza-genocide-convention\/#Notre_Dames_Approach_Dialogue_over_Division\" >Notre Dame\u2019s Approach: Dialogue over Division<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/south-africa-israel-icj-gaza-genocide-convention\/#The_Gaza_War_and_the_Road_to_The_Hague\" >The Gaza War and the Road to The Hague<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/south-africa-israel-icj-gaza-genocide-convention\/#Why_South_Africa_The_Weight_of_History\" >Why South Africa? The Weight of History<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/south-africa-israel-icj-gaza-genocide-convention\/#South_Africas_Legal_Case_Genocide_Convention_as_the_Foundation\" >South Africa\u2019s Legal Case: Genocide Convention as the Foundation<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/south-africa-israel-icj-gaza-genocide-convention\/#Prima_Facie_Jurisdiction_South_Africas_Arguments\" >Prima Facie Jurisdiction: South Africa\u2019s Arguments<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/south-africa-israel-icj-gaza-genocide-convention\/#Israels_Defense_War_Not_Genocide\" >Israel\u2019s Defense: War, Not Genocide<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/south-africa-israel-icj-gaza-genocide-convention\/#ICJs_Provisional_Measures_A_Middle_Path\" >ICJ\u2019s Provisional Measures: A Middle Path<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/south-africa-israel-icj-gaza-genocide-convention\/#The_Challenge_of_Asymmetrical_Litigation\" >The Challenge of Asymmetrical Litigation<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/south-africa-israel-icj-gaza-genocide-convention\/#International_Law_as_a_Tool_for_Justice\" >International Law as a Tool for Justice<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/south-africa-israel-icj-gaza-genocide-convention\/#Conclusion_A_Seminal_Moment_for_International_Justice\" >Conclusion: A Seminal Moment for International Justice<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/south-africa-israel-icj-gaza-genocide-convention\/#Lawyers_in_Around_the_World_%E2%80%93_Search_by_City\" >Lawyers in Around the World \u2013 Search by City<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"notre-dame-dialogue-over-division\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Notre_Dames_Approach_Dialogue_over_Division\"><\/span>Notre Dame\u2019s Approach: Dialogue over Division<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Introducing the session, Professor Alford highlighted how Notre Dame Law School has chosen dialogue rather than disruption in engaging with the Israel-Gaza conflict. Unlike some U.S. universities where protests led to class disruptions and polarized confrontations, Notre Dame has fostered structured, respectful discussions on contentious issues such as antisemitism, free speech, international law, and the ICJ proceedings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This intellectual environment set the stage for Justice Theron\u2019s lecture, which was framed not as advocacy but as legal analysis grounded in South Africa\u2019s history and international jurisprudence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"gaza-war-road-to-hague\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Gaza_War_and_the_Road_to_The_Hague\"><\/span>The Gaza War and the Road to The Hague<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Justice Theron began by situating the ICJ case within the broader context of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks and Israel\u2019s subsequent military response. She acknowledged the brutality of the Hamas assault, which resulted in over 1,200 deaths and the abduction of approximately 240 hostages. These events, she noted, fundamentally altered the dynamics of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Israel\u2019s military campaign in Gaza, launched with the stated objective of dismantling Hamas, has led to widespread civilian casualties, massive destruction of infrastructure, and large-scale displacement of Gaza\u2019s population. Hospitals, schools, and refugee camps have been affected, while humanitarian conditions have deteriorated sharply, with reports of severe shortages of food, water, and medical supplies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Against this backdrop, South Africa filed an application at the ICJ on December 29, 2023, alleging that Israel\u2019s conduct in Gaza violated obligations under the <strong>Genocide Convention<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"why-south-africa-history\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Why_South_Africa_The_Weight_of_History\"><\/span>Why South Africa? The Weight of History<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A central theme of Justice Theron\u2019s address was South Africa\u2019s moral and legal perspective, shaped by its own apartheid past. She explained how apartheid\u2014recognized internationally as a crime against humanity\u2014systematically oppressed Black South Africans through racially discriminatory laws enforced by the judiciary itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>South Africa\u2019s transition to democracy was made possible in part through international pressure, sanctions, and solidarity movements. This history, Justice Theron suggested, informs South Africa\u2019s contemporary foreign policy and its willingness to invoke international law when mass atrocities are alleged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>She also highlighted the historical alignment between South Africa\u2019s liberation movement (the African National Congress) and the Palestinian cause, contrasting with the apartheid-era government\u2019s diplomatic ties with Israel. This legacy partly explains why South Africa felt compelled to bring the case before the ICJ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"south-africa-legal-case-genocide\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"South_Africas_Legal_Case_Genocide_Convention_as_the_Foundation\"><\/span>South Africa\u2019s Legal Case: Genocide Convention as the Foundation<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>South Africa grounded its application in <strong>Article 9 of the Genocide Convention<\/strong>, which allows disputes regarding interpretation, application, or fulfillment of the Convention to be brought before the ICJ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"prima-facie-jurisdiction-arguments\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Prima_Facie_Jurisdiction_South_Africas_Arguments\"><\/span>Prima Facie Jurisdiction: South Africa\u2019s Arguments<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Both South Africa and Israel are parties to the Genocide Convention.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>There exists a genuine legal dispute regarding Israel\u2019s compliance.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Certain acts in Gaza could fall within the scope of genocide as defined under international law.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>South Africa relied on a range of evidence, including statements by Israeli officials, media reports, and UN findings, to argue that there was a plausible risk of genocidal intent. Justice Theron emphasized that proving genocide requires demonstrating both prohibited acts and specific intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a protected group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"israel-defense-war-not-genocide\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Israels_Defense_War_Not_Genocide\"><\/span>Israel\u2019s Defense: War, Not Genocide<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The military campaign in Gaza is an act of self-defense against a terrorist organization.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Genocide Convention was not designed to regulate the conduct of war.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>South Africa ignored Hamas\u2019s role in initiating the conflict on October 7.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Any civilian harm was incidental to legitimate military operations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Israel also contended that South Africa failed to engage in diplomatic dialogue before approaching the ICJ and urged the court to dismiss the case outright.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"icj-provisional-measures-middle-path\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"ICJs_Provisional_Measures_A_Middle_Path\"><\/span>ICJ\u2019s Provisional Measures: A Middle Path<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>On January 26, 2024, the ICJ issued provisional measures but stopped short of ordering an immediate ceasefire. Instead, it directed Israel to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Order<\/th><th>Requirement<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>1<\/td><td>Prevent acts of genocide and public incitement.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>2<\/td><td>Allow humanitarian aid into Gaza.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>3<\/td><td>Preserve evidence related to alleged violations.<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>4<\/td><td>Report back to the court within one month on compliance.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The court found that some of South Africa\u2019s allegations were <strong>plausible enough<\/strong> to warrant interim measures, emphasizing that its ruling did not constitute a final judgment on genocide.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Justice Theron explained that the ICJ\u2019s restraint was largely due to jurisdictional limits\u2014most notably, the fact that Hamas is not a state and therefore not subject to ICJ orders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"challenge-asymmetrical-litigation\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Challenge_of_Asymmetrical_Litigation\"><\/span>The Challenge of Asymmetrical Litigation<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A major point of discussion in the Q&amp;A session was the asymmetry of the case: South Africa could bring the claim under the erga omnes nature of the Genocide Convention, yet Hamas, a key actor in the conflict, was not before the court.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This raised questions about fairness, effectiveness, and the ability of international law to fully address complex conflicts involving non-state actors. Justice Theron acknowledged these limitations but maintained that the case still served an important role in reinforcing international legal norms.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"international-law-tool-for-justice\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"International_Law_as_a_Tool_for_Justice\"><\/span>International Law as a Tool for Justice<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>In her concluding remarks, Justice Theron emphasized that international law\u2014despite its constraints\u2014remains a crucial mechanism for accountability, conflict resolution, and human rights protection. She argued that legal action, even when imperfect, is preferable to silence in the face of potential atrocities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cInjustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>This quote, attributed to Martin Luther King Jr., underscored the universal responsibility to confront wrongdoing through lawful means.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"conclusion-seminal-moment-justice\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Conclusion_A_Seminal_Moment_for_International_Justice\"><\/span>Conclusion: A Seminal Moment for International Justice<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Justice Leona Theron\u2019s lecture offered more than a legal briefing\u2014it provided a profound reflection on the role of law in a divided world. The South Africa v. Israel case at the ICJ represents a defining moment for the Genocide Convention and international humanitarian law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Whether one agrees with South Africa\u2019s position or not, the case has reinforced the idea that even powerful states can be called to account before international courts, and that smaller nations can use legal institutions to challenge global injustice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As the ICJ proceedings continue, this case will likely shape the future of international law, state responsibility, and the global response to mass violence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Lawyers_in_Around_the_World_%E2%80%93_Search_by_City\"><\/span>Lawyers in Around the World \u2013 Search by City <img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Lawyers Search\" src=\"https:\/\/www.legalservicesindia.com\/images\/nav_search.gif\" width=\"17\" height=\"14\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><a href=\"\/int_lawyers\/cape-town.htm\">Lawyers in Cape Town<\/a><\/td><td><a href=\"\/int_lawyers\/johannesburg.htm\">Lawyers in Johannesburg<\/a><\/td><td><a href=\"\/int_lawyers\/pari.htm\">Lawyers in Paris<\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"\/int_lawyers\/Cameroon.htm\">Lawyers in Cameroon<\/a><\/td><td><a href=\"\/int_lawyers\/barbados.htm\">Lawyers in Barbados<\/a><\/td><td><a href=\"\/int_lawyers\/jamaica.htm\">Lawyers in Jamaica<\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"\/int_lawyers\/milan.htm\">Lawyers in Milan<\/a><\/td><td><a href=\"\/int_lawyers\/switzerland.htm\">Lawyers in Switzerland<\/a><\/td><td><a href=\"\/int_lawyers\/milan.htm\">Lawyers in Italy<\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"\/int_lawyers\/Panama.htm\">Lawyers in Panama<\/a><\/td><td>&nbsp;<\/td><td><a href=\"\/int_lawyers\/buenos-aires.htm\">Lawyers in Buenos Aires<\/a><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A Legal and Historical Perspective on Accountability, Human Rights, and the Gaza Conflict The ongoing war in Gaza and the landmark case brought by South Africa against Israel before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) have generated intense legal, political, and moral debate across the world. At a recent lecture at Notre Dame Law School,<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":50,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"two_page_speed":[],"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"_joinchat":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[5601],"tags":[3313,5600],"class_list":{"0":"post-14614","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-judge","7":"tag-foreign-laws","8":"tag-judge"},"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14614","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/50"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14614"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14614\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14614"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14614"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.legalserviceindia.com\/Legal-Articles\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14614"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}