Gaza war and South African lawsuit against Israel

We welcome the initiative of the Republic of South Africa to indict the State of Israel for genocide, the ongoing destruction of human life and livelihoods in Gaza at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, while also naming and condemning the atrocious crimes of Hamas.

The United Nations organisations, as “representatives of the world’s conscience”, have so far failed to prevent multiple acts of genocide by states and non-state entities and terrorist groups. Furthermore, the world authorities have only rarely condemned or even called responsible actors to account.

It is remarkable and welcome that a country long suffering under apartheid such as the Republic of South Africa is articulating itself as a voice of world conscience to bring the brutal, uninhibited war crimes of the Israeli army to justice as a presumed act of genocide.

We are aware that the barbaric actions of Hamas in its behaviour towards Israeli citizens and civilians in particular are based on a profound, religiously motivated mindset. Islamist groups hostile to civilisation, such as Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon, are unfortunately fostered and fuelled by the Islamic regime of Iran.

On the other hand, fundamentalist groups in Israel have also taken the upper hand politically by forming an extreme right-wing government. This is bound to lead to a clash of fundamentalists – and innocent citizens on both sides have to suffer.

We hope that the indictment of the Republic of South Africa against the State of Israel will be understood worldwide, including in the Islamic Republic of Iran, as a warning that such crimes that violate international law and human rights will not remain unpunished.

It is high time that human and international rights are once again fully respected internationally and that lawbreakers – whether states or groups – are held accountable.

For lasting peace in the interests of all people in the region, a rapid end to all acts of war on the one hand and the prompt realisation of a solution that is acceptable to both peoples and complies with applicable international law on the other are indispensable.

Finally, we hope that both the Israeli hostages still being held and the displaced Palestinians can quickly return to their homes and territories and that the infrastructure in Gaza can be rebuilt immediately with international aid.

Vienna,18.01.2024

Prof. Dr. Siroos Mirzaei
Medical Professionals for Human Rights  in Iran – Austria

Dr. Behrouz Bayat
Committee for the Defence of Human Rights in Iran

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