CAGG applauds South Africa's bold move to take Israel to International Court of Justice

AMMAN — A delegation from the Campaign against Gaza Genocide (CAGG) met with the Ambassador of the Republic of South Africa to Jordan Tselane Mokuena earlier this week to express support and gratitude for the bold position adopted by South Africa to file a genocide convention case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ). 

During their meeting with the ambassador on Tuesday, the campaign representatives highlighted the importance of the historical position of South Africa’s decision to expose Israel’s violations of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, according to a press statement that was released to the press on Thursday. 

The campaign leaders briefed the ambassador on actions taken thus far, including pressuring international and UN organisations to call out the genocide, and a petition signed by wide segments of Jordanian civil society, human rights activists and prominent figures in Jordan, according to the statement. 

The petition, according to the CAGG, called upon the Jordanian government to intervene in support of South Africa’s case at the ICJ.

The campaign will continue urging other countries and governments to intervene and positively impact the court application filed by South Africa, Rania Sabbah, one of the group members, told The Jordan Times on Thursday. 

A discussion took place on the support needed from the civil society to further the South African position, and how to address the possible countermeasures by Israel, according to Sabbah. 

Another campaign leader, Rifat Audeh, emphasised during the meeting the positive prospects the case could bring about, and most importantly “its contribution to enforce a ceasefire in Gaza”, according to the press statement. 

“We assert our complete support for South Africa, and we look forward to winning the case as it will be our guiding light and hope for justice,” Audeh said. 

Meanwhile, Ambassador Mokuena emphasised that “it is an obligation on the part of South Africa to expose the genocide committed against Gaza and the Palestinian people", according to the press release. 

“We understand the value of solidarity because South Africa is the product of international solidarity,” the ambassador was quoted as saying in the press release. 

Sabbah added that “what is important for the group is to continue to raise awareness about what is going on in Gaza”. 

“Our next step is to continue to collect signatures for petitions that would call for more lobbying to halt the war against the Gaza Strip and we will also launch another cyber campaign in the coming days,” Sabbah added. 

The CAGG has prepared several petitions since the launch of the war against Gaza on Oct. 7 that demanded urgent action against the potential genocide in Gaza.

Some of the petitions were hand-delivered to international organisations and UN agencies that are operating in the Kingdom to lobby governments to protect the people they serve, according to the CAGG.

The petition called for an immediate and decisive action in the face of potential genocide perpetrated by Israeli forces.

It also explicitly calls for a clear condemnation of Israel's actions and an urgent ceasefire, with the activists believing that using the term "genocide" explicitly will exert significant pressure on Western governments to intervene.

The petition demands INGOs and UN Agencies to express concern about a potential genocide in Gaza based on reports by experts and call for an urgent ceasefire, and the delivery of sufficient aid, especially to Gaza's northern districts.

The petition includes evidence presented by experts like the former Director in the New York Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights Craig Mokhiber and UN Special Rapporteurs who have raised concerns about crimes against humanity.