Israel Commits 4 Counts of Genocidal Acts in Gaza 

South Africa has leveled accusations against Israel, asserting that the latter has engaged in four instances of genocidal acts as defined by the Genocide Convention. Adila Hassim, representing South Africa in this landmark case, specified that Israel has violated Article II (a), (b), (c), and (d) of the convention.

The Genocide Convention defines genocide as acts committed with the intent to destroy, either wholly or partially, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group, outlining five genocidal acts under Article II.

South Africa contends that the actions of Israel have been extensively documented by the United Nations, revealing a systematic pattern indicative of genocide. Hassim stated, "The first genocidal act committed by Israel is the mass killing of Palestinians in Gaza, in violation of Article II (a) of the Genocide Convention," citing the article that addresses the killing of members of a particular group as the first count of a genocidal act.

The death toll from Israeli attacks in Gaza since October 7, 2023, exceeds 23,000 Palestinians, including approximately 9,600 children and 6,750 women, with at least 7,000 people reported missing. Hassim emphasized that this killing constitutes a deliberate destruction of Palestinian lives, sparing no one, even newborns. The severity of the situation prompted UN leaders to describe it as a "graveyard for children."

Addressing the second genocidal act, Hassim pointed out that Israel has caused serious bodily or mental harm to members of the group, violating Article II (b). The attacks have resulted in injuries to nearly 60,000 Palestinians, predominantly women and children. Hassim underscored the undeniable physical and mental suffering of the Palestinian people.

The third genocidal act identified by South Africa falls under Article II (c), where Israel is accused of deliberately imposing conditions on Gaza that cannot sustain life, aiming to bring about its physical destruction. According to the lawyer, Israel's actions have forced the displacement of about 85 percent of Palestinians in Gaza, deliberately causing widespread hunger, dehydration, and starvation.

Finally, South Africa contends that Israel's obstruction of life-saving aid delivery in Gaza, including essential medical kits for childbirth, constitutes a genocidal act under Article II (d). This article prohibits measures intended to prevent births within the group. Hassim concluded that these acts, both individually and collectively, form a calculated pattern of conduct by Israel, indicating a genocidal intent.