As Israel destroys vast neighbourhoods in Lebanon and accuses healthcare facilities in the country of providing a cover for Hezbollah storage facilities, South Africa has presented new evidence to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) of Israel’s intent to commit genocide in Gaza. But will these legal measures stop the occupation state’s military manoeuvres?
In this this episode of Palestine This Week, we being with the latest news from South Africa’s genocide case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), where the legal team has presented compelling new evidence of intent by Israel to commit genocide, alongside dramatic developments at the International Criminal Court (ICC) with Judge Iulia Motoc’s unexpected request to be excused from proceedings.
As the UN issues its starkest warning yet that the entire population of northern Gaza is at risk of dying from Israel’s eradication plan, we examine proposals to establish ‘gated communities’ with biometric screening systems for Palestinians. We also analyse Israel’s controversial bill to shut down the operations of United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), while exploring the significance of newly surfaced documents allegedly containing Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar’s last written orders regarding the treatment of hostages.
We also discuss Israel’s recent strikes on Iran, examining their relatively limited scope and what this suggests about regional escalation and Israel’s contentious claims about Hezbollah’s alleged bunker under Beirut’s Al-Sahel Hospital, drawing parallels with similar unfounded allegations about Gaza’s Al-Shifa Hospital.
Our analysis concludes with crucial developments in US politics, including the surprising endorsement of Trump by a Muslim mayor in Michigan, Vice President Harris’s reported refusal to meet with Muslim groups, and a letter from Department of Justice lawyers to Attorney General Merrick Garland concerning potential violations of US law by Israel.