South Africa highlights consequences of ICJ not intervening in Gaza war

Vusimuzi Madonsela, the last person to speak on behalf of South Africa today, told the ICJ it had a duty "to prevent genocide and to do so in the discharge of the international obligation that rests on South Africa and all other states under the convention.

“The consequences of not indicating clear and specific provisional measures and not taking steps to intervene while Israel disregards its international obligations before our eyes would, we fear, be very grave indeed," Madonsela said. 

The consequences would be felt by the Palestinians in Gaza, who remain at "real risk of further genocidal acts", said the advocate. 

Madonsela added that the "integrity of the [genocide] convention" was at stake and also the "reputation of this court, which is equipped with and must exercise its powers to afford an effective realisation of the rights under the convention”.