In a significant move, South Africa has lodged a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing it of committing acts of genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. The filing comes after nearly three months of relentless Israeli bombardment that has resulted in the deaths of over 21,500 people and widespread destruction in the besieged enclave.

South Africa submitted the application to the ICJ on Friday, portraying Israel's actions in Gaza as "genocidal in character" and aimed at causing the destruction of a substantial part of the Palestinian national, racial, and ethnic group. The application specifically mentions the killing of Palestinians, causing them bodily and mental harm, and subjecting them to conditions of life meant to bring about their physical destruction.

The ICJ, also known as the World Court, serves as a UN civil court for resolving disputes between nations. As both South Africa and Israel are members of the UN, they are bound by the court's decisions.

South African President Cyril Ramaphosa drew parallels between Israel's policies in Gaza and the apartheid regime that his country endured until 1994. Multiple human rights organizations have also accused Israel of implementing apartheid-like policies towards Palestinians.

South Africa argues that Israel's conduct during the ongoing conflict violates the UN's Genocide Convention. The application calls for an expedited hearing and requests provisional measures from the court to protect the rights of the Palestinian people and prevent further harm.

South Africa's Department of International Relations and Cooperation expressed grave concern for the civilians caught in the Israeli attacks on Gaza. The country has consistently urged an immediate and permanent ceasefire, along with the resumption of talks to end the violence stemming from the long-standing occupation of Palestine.

In response, Israel has rejected global calls for a ceasefire, stating that the war will continue until the Hamas group, which initiated the conflict, is eliminated. The current phase of the conflict began with a Hamas attack on October 7, resulting in the deaths of 1,200 people. Hamas claims its attack was in response to Israel's blockade of Gaza and expansion of settlements in the occupied territories.

The application to the ICJ marks another step taken by South Africa, a vocal critic of Israel's actions, to exert pressure. Last month, South African lawmakers voted in favor of closing down the Israeli embassy in Pretoria and suspending diplomatic relations until a ceasefire is achieved.

The court application has gained international attention, with Al Jazeera's Gabriel Elizondo emphasizing its significance in holding Israel accountable. The UN's experts, in a statement issued on November 16, called on the international community to prevent genocide against the Palestinian people and expressed concern over governments supporting Israel's "strategy of warfare" against Gaza.

Israel has dismissed South Africa's claims as baseless, describing them as "blood libel". The country's foreign minister, Lior Haiat, emphasized that the residents of Gaza are not Israel's enemies and that efforts are being made to limit harm and facilitate humanitarian aid to the region.

The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed South Africa's move and called on the ICJ to take immediate action to prevent further harm to its people. The ministry's statement accused Israel of pursuing genocidal policies under its colonial occupation and apartheid regime, and urged the international community to support the court's proceedings.

The case filed by South Africa against Israel at the ICJ serves as a significant development in the ongoing conflict, shedding light on the allegations of genocide and calling for accountability for the actions taken in Gaza. The international community will closely observe the court's response as the situation continues to unfold.