The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has concluded two days of intense legal arguments regarding the accusation of genocide in Israel's war in Gaza. The judges at the ICJ now face the task of determining whether Israel is guilty of attempting to "destroy a national, ethnic, racial or religious group, in whole or in part," as outlined in the 1948 Convention on Genocide.

With strong emotions surrounding the conflict that erupted on October 7th, both sides presented compelling cases. South Africa, the plaintiff, highlighted a range of alleged Israeli offenses, including the indiscriminate killing of Palestinian civilians and the extensive destruction of Gaza's infrastructure. The South African legal team emphasized the need to end Israel's military operations in Gaza, arguing that continuing the war would lead to the destruction of entire multi-generational families.

In response, the Israeli legal team countered with their own emotional appeal, presenting images of 132 missing Israelis who are believed to be held hostage in Gaza. They questioned whether these individuals were unworthy of protection and argued that if anyone was guilty of genocide, it was Hamas. Israel accused South Africa of supporting Hamas, which is designated as a terrorist organization by multiple countries.

The ICJ is aware that reaching a verdict on the charge of genocide could take several years due to the substantial burden of proof. Genocide is notoriously difficult to prove, requiring compelling evidence of intent and a pattern of behavior by the Israel Defense Forces that points to genocide specifically.

It is essential to note that this case solely focuses on the genocide accusation and does not address allegations of war crimes or claims of ethnic cleansing. The ICJ's verdict will determine whether there is sufficient evidence to support the charge of genocide.

Meanwhile, South Africa has requested nine "provisional measures" from the ICJ to protect the rights of the Palestinian people, including an immediate suspension of Israel's military operation in Gaza. These measures, if granted, could bring Israel's military campaign to a halt within weeks, potentially inhibiting its objective of eliminating Hamas as a political and military force in Gaza.

Israel's legal team argued against the provision of these measures, asserting that they lacked a legal basis and would restrict Israel's actions while allowing Hamas to act freely. The ICJ will consider South Africa's request and make a decision accordingly.

The ICJ's verdict on the charge of genocide and its consideration of South Africa's provisional measures request will have significant implications for the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza. However, reaching a final resolution on these complex issues is expected to be a lengthy process.