South Africa has raised grave concerns about the dire situation in Gaza, describing it as genocidal during a hearing at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). The proceedings began on Thursday, May 16, in The Hague, Netherlands, as reported by Al Jazeera.

In the initial session, South Africa presented arguments urging the ICJ to exert pressure on Israel to halt its military operations in Rafah. Vusimuzi Madonsela, South Africa's representative, emphasized the severity of the situation, stating, "The last time we came to the court, we hoped to protect Palestine and the inhabitants of this territory, and that the genocide would stop. But it didn't happen like that. Israel continues the genocide. The genocidal situation has now reached an alarming level. Israel is trying to hide its crimes by misinterpreting international human rights law."

The hearing, which spans two days, will see Israel present its counterarguments on Friday. While the ICJ's judgments are legally binding, the court lacks enforcement power, as evidenced by its earlier directive for Russia to cease its attacks on Ukraine, which went unheeded.

South Africa's case against Israel, filed on December 29 of the previous year, highlights the ongoing international legal battles surrounding the conflict in Gaza. The outcome of this hearing may set significant precedents for addressing allegations of genocide and human rights violations on the global stage.