Aharon Barak: Israel's judge at the ICJ who 'legitimised occupation'
The Israeli government has appointed Aharon Barak, the former head of its Supreme Court, to the panel of judges that will hear South Africa’s case accusing Israel of genocide in Gaza at an International Court of Justice (ICJ) hearing later this week.
In addition to the 15 judges on the permanent panel at the Hague-based court, the two parties to a case are also able to nominate a judge to take part in the deliberation. Decisions are taken by a simple majority.
In an 84-page application, South Africa said Israel's actions in Gaza were "genocidal in character because they are intended to bring about the destruction of a substantial part of the Palestinian national, racial and ethnical group".
The Palestinian death toll since war broke out on 7 October is nearing the 23,000 mark in the besieged enclave. The majority of those killed are women and children.
Barak’s appointment to the ICJ panel was personally approved by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to a report on Israel's Channel 12.