Skip to content
general-news — Story — Says — Render — Death — Hamas — Official — Israeli — Unrwa — Un — Israel — War-and-conflicts — War — Opinion — Displacement — Humanitarian — Curriculum — Politics — News — Court — Starvation — Ngo

Israel Employs Food Deprivation as a War Strategy Against Palestinians, South Africa Accuses in ICJ

Israel accused of employing starvation tactics against Palestinians in occupied territories, allegedly violating international duties, as stated by South Africa at the International Court of Justice.

,   and  ASMedia
3 min read
Israel accused of utilizing food deprivation as a weapon against Palestinians in occupied...
Israel accused of utilizing food deprivation as a weapon against Palestinians in occupied territories, allegedly violating international duties, according to South Africa's statement at the International Court of Justice.

Israel Employs Food Deprivation as a War Strategy Against Palestinians, South Africa Accuses in ICJ

In a bold move, South Africa has slammed Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for utilizing starvation as a lethal weapon against Palestinians in the occupied territories. As Hendricks, South Africa's representative, put it, Israel's actions are a clear violation of international law and humanitarian norms.

"Mate, it's bloody pathetic that Israel is employing starvation as a way to wage war, under siege or blockade. Can you imagine that? It's a total no-no under international law," Hendricks said on the second day of public hearings in The Hague.

Hendricks pointed out that Israel has been using a plethora of techniques to inflict hunger and starvation, leading to a catastrophic situation of genocide. Israel's officials have attempted to sugarcoat their actions, but the truth is that Palestinians are, at the end of the day, human beings, not some irrelevant pawns in a sick game.

Israel must cooperate with the United Nations and aid organizations like UNRWA, Hendricks added, to render every possible assistance. Israel must also stop obstructing humanitarian aid, immediately reverse its decision to expel UNRWA and other UN bodies, and abide by its obligations as an occupying power.

Turning to the UN, Hendricks demanded that it should actively negotiate for the removal of Israeli barriers and continuously render humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian people despite Israeli restrictions.

Third states, Hendricks continued, have a moral obligation to refuse recognizing Israel's illegal acts such as denying aid and banning UNRWA, and to refrain from providing arms to Israel.

Earlier, Zane Dangor, South Africa's Director-General of the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, had stated that the humanitarian aid system was facing total collapse, a collapse he described as being by design.

Nokukhanya Jele, another South African representative, emphasized that Israel may not impose any measures prohibited by international humanitarian law, such as mass displacements, property destruction, transferring in of colonial settlers, and targeting schools and school curriculums.

The ICJ, also known as the World Court, was tasked in December with providing an advisory opinion on Israel's obligations to facilitate aid to Palestinians, delivered by states and international groups like the UN.

Amidst all this, Hamas argued that the death of 40 Palestinians during the ICJ sessions was a blatant defiance of the international community.

  1. South Africa's representative, Hendricks, stated Israel's use of starvation as a weapon of war is a clear violation of international law and humanitarian norms.
  2. Hendricks accused Israel of utilizing multiple techniques to inflict hunger and starvation, deeming it a catastrophic situation amounting to genocide.
  3. Israel's officials have attempted to downplay their actions, but Hendricks sees Palestinians as human beings, not pawns in a sinister game.
  4. Hendricks insisted Israel must cooperate with the United Nations and aid organizations like UNRWA to provide assistance.
  5. He also urged Israel to cease obstructing humanitarian aid, reverse its decision to expel UNRWA and other UN bodies, and fulfill its duties as an occupying power.
  6. Hendricks appealed to the UN for active negotiations to remove Israeli barriers and perpetual humanitarian aid to Palestinians.
  7. Third states have a moral obligation to refuse recognizing Israel's illegal acts, such as denying aid and banning UNRWA, and refrain from supplying arms to Israel.
  8. Zane Dangor, South Africa's Director-General, had earlier revealed that the humanitarian aid system was at the brink of collapse, a collapse he attributed to deliberate design.
  9. Nokukhanya Jele, another South African representative, underscored that Israel may not impose measures prohibited by international humanitarian law, such as mass displacements, property destruction, colonial settlements, and attacks on schools and their curriculums.
  10. The ICJ, or the World Court, has been assigned to deliver an advisory opinion on Israel's obligations to facilitate aid to Palestinians, based on submissions made by states and international groups like the UN.
  11. Hamas contended that the death of 40 Palestinians during the ICJ sessions signifies a deliberate defiance of the international community.

Read also:

Related

Latest