Hague, The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is set to conduct public hearings at the Peace Palace in The Hague on January 11 and 12, 2024, in the case brought by South Africa against Israel. The proceedings, initiated on December 29, 2023, will address South Africa’s request for provisional measures under the Genocide Convention, focusing on the situation of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
According to International Court of Justice, South Africa has accused Israel of violating its obligations under the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide. The South African application seeks provisional measures to prevent “further, severe and irreparable harm to the rights of the Palestinian people under the Genocide Convention” and to ensure Israel’s compliance with its obligations not to engage in genocide.
The schedule for the hearings includes oral arguments from South Africa on January 11, 2024, from 10 a.m. to 12 noon, and from Israel on January 12, 2024, during the same hours. The hearings will be open to members of the diplomatic corps, the public, and media representatives, with specific admission procedures outlined for each group.
Members of the diplomatic corps must register online by January 9, 2024, to secure a seat in the Great Hall of Justice. The public will be admitted on a first-come, first-served basis, with no prior registration and seats allocated 40 minutes before the session start. Media representatives are also required to fill out an online accreditation form by January 9, 2024, with the Press Room accommodating only 30 people.
The Court has provided additional information for media representatives, including access details to the Peace Palace and courtroom, technical facilities available in the Press Room, and the provision of live and on-demand streaming of the hearings in English and French.
The International Court of Justice, established in June 1945 and beginning its activities in April 1946, is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations. It has a dual role: settling legal disputes submitted by States and providing advisory opinions on legal questions referred by authorized UN organs and agencies. The Court, composed of 15 judges elected for a nine-year term, is based in the Peace Palace, The Hague, Netherlands.
For further information, contact the ICJ Information Department: Ms. Monique Legerman, Ms. Joanne Moore, or Mr. Avo Sevag Garabet.