Statement

The State of Palestine welcomes the decision of the Government of South Africa to institute proceedings against Israel relating to the interpretation, application, and fulfillment of the 1948  Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and for the request for indication of provisional measures before the International Court of Justice. 

Israel’s stated policy, acts and omissions are genocidal in character are  committed with the requisite specific intent to the destruction of the Palestinian people under its colonial occupation and apartheid regime in violation of its obligations under the Genocide Convention. 

Urgent intervention and action is needed to protect against and prevent further harm to the Palestinian people. 

The Court must immediately take action to protect the Palestinian people and call on Israel, the occupying Power, to halt its onslaught against the Palestinian people, in order to ensure an objective legal resolution. 

The State of Palestine appeals to the international community and the Contracting Parties to the Convention to uphold their obligations and support the Court in the proceedings. 

The existence of the Palestinian people is under unprecedented threat as we are facing a moral and legal catastrophe of enormous proportions undermining our shared humanity and the essence of the multilateral order.