Nobel Prize-winning author Abdulrazak Gurnah commended the South African government for its decision to bring Israel before the International Court of Justice (ICJ) regarding its actions in Gaza.
Speaking at the 2024 Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture in Johannesburg, Gurnah described the case as an important step in highlighting the severe humanitarian crisis caused by Israel’s military operations.
Gurnah acknowledged the limitations of legal rulings, noting, “The court’s ruling and its warrants will only be more words… words will not end this or other injustices.”
However, he stressed the importance of maintaining a sense of shared humanity, advocating for justice that transcends national boundaries.
South Africa filed the case in late 2023, accusing Israel of violating the 1948 Genocide Convention amid its ongoing military campaign in Gaza.
The ICJ previously ordered Israel to cease its operations in Rafah, marking the third time it sought to mitigate the humanitarian crisis in the region, which has seen over 41,000 Palestinian casualties since the conflict escalated last October.
Several nations have joined South Africa in this genocide case, including Türkiye, Nicaragua, Palestine, Spain, Mexico, Libya, and Colombia. Public hearings commenced in January.
Gurnah drew parallels between his childhood experiences during the colonial period in Zanzibar and the current situation in South Africa, where he first became aware of the nation through decolonization movements.
He expressed solidarity with the struggles of oppressed peoples.
Under international law, genocide is defined by actions aimed at destroying, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group.
South Africa’s case alleges that Israel’s military actions, including airstrikes and the blockade of Gaza, constitute genocidal acts aimed at the Palestinian people.
Israel has categorically rejected these allegations, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserting that it is Hamas, not Israel, that commits acts of genocide.
The Israeli government maintains that its military actions target Hamas and are conducted with measures to minimize civilian casualties.
The ICJ’s role is not to prosecute individuals but to provide advisory opinions on legal matters, making its rulings significant yet difficult to enforce.
A final verdict in this case could take several years, and while the ICJ’s decisions are binding on member states, compliance remains a challenge.
South Africa’s case reflects its commitment to stand against what it perceives as injustices, drawing on its own history of apartheid and colonial oppression.
President Cyril Ramaphosa reiterated this stance, stating, “As a people who once tasted the bitter fruits of dispossession, discrimination, racism, and state-sponsored violence, we are clear that we will stand on the right side of history.”
