South Africa attempting to defer deadline for giving evidence at ICJ - KAN

South Africa is required to submit its evidence by October 28. However, it is now attempting to obtain a few more months, the report noted. 

 Judges at the ICJ hear a request for emergency measures by South Africa, who asked the court to order Israel to stop its military actions in Gaza, in The Hague, Netherlands, january 11, 2024. (photo credit: REUTERS/THILO SCHMUELGEN)
Judges at the ICJ hear a request for emergency measures by South Africa, who asked the court to order Israel to stop its military actions in Gaza, in The Hague, Netherlands, january 11, 2024.
(photo credit: REUTERS/THILO SCHMUELGEN)

South Africa is attempting to postpone the deadline for which it would have to submit its evidence at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in the Hague due to a lack of evidence pointing to genocide in Gaza, according to KAN news on Tuesday. 

South Africa is required to submit its evidence by October 28. However, the report noted that it is now attempting to add a few more months to the timeline. 

On Monday, Walla reported, citing a classified memo from the Foreign Ministry, that Israel was seeking the help of US Congress in applying pressure on South Africa to halt proceedings against it.  

Public hearing held by ICJ to allow parties to give their views on the legal consequences of Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories before eventually issuing a non-binding legal opinion in The Hague, Netherlands, February 21, 2024. (credit: PIROSCHKA VAN DE WOUW/REUTERS)
Public hearing held by ICJ to allow parties to give their views on the legal consequences of Israel's occupation of the Palestinian territories before eventually issuing a non-binding legal opinion in The Hague, Netherlands, February 21, 2024. (credit: PIROSCHKA VAN DE WOUW/REUTERS)

South Africa's genocide case against Israel

In late December, South Africa filed a complaint at the ICJ, charging that Israel had violated the United Nations 1948 convention on the prevention of genocide. It accused Israel of committing genocide during its operations in the Gaza Strip in the framework of the Israel-Hamas War. 

In May, the ICJ ordered Israel to stop any military operation in Rafah that destroys the Palestinian people in “whole or in part."

However, the court did not order the IDF to withdraw from Gaza or end its military operation in it. 

Tovah Lazaroff and Rina Bassist contributed to this report.