The Hague, January 11 (RHC)-- The International Court of Justice in The Hague has begun hearing two days of arguments in South Africa’s historic genocide case against Israel.  South Africa has accused Israel of violating the 1948 U.N. Genocide Convention, saying its three-month assault on Gaza is being conducted with the intent to bring about the destruction of Palestinians as a group. 

Even as the hearing, which will span Thursday and Friday, was being conducted, the ongoing bombardment of the Gaza Strip by Israeli forces killed more than 100 Palestinians and injured nearly 200 over the latest 24-hour reporting period, the Gaza Ministry of Health said on Thursday.

South Africa is outlining its case today.  Israel will defend itself on Friday. 

During today’s hearing, attorneys for the South African government laid out what they described as Israel’s genocidal intent.  Tembeka Ngcukaitobi told the Court: “Israel has a genocidal intent against the Palestinians in Gaza. That is evident from the way in which Israel’s military attack is being conducted. … Israel’s special genocidal intent is rooted in the belief that, in fact, the enemy is not just the military wing of Hamas, or indeed Hamas generally, but is embedded in the fabric of Palestinian life in Gaza.”