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“Blood Libel?”: On the Question of Genocide in Gaza

Assessing South Africa’s accusations with David Scheffer, a founding father of the International Criminal Court.

Any remaining good will between Pretoria and Jerusalem has completely evaporated during this war as both South Africa and Israel have pulled their ambassadors from the other’s capital.
Any remaining good will between Pretoria and Jerusalem has completely evaporated during this war as both South Africa and Israel have pulled their ambassadors from the other’s capital. Photo: Ali Jadallah/Getty Images
Julia Ioffe
January 10, 2024

On Thursday, the International Court of Justice, the U.N.’s top court, located in The Hague, will hear arguments in response to South Africa’s petition accusing Israel of violating the 1948 Genocide Convention. It is asking the court to order an end to all Israeli military action in Gaza. The Israeli government has denounced the case, slamming it as “blood libel” and reportedly pushing other governments to pile on, too.