Israel submits long-delayed response in ICJ genocide proceedings
South Africa's government is weighing its legal options after Israel finally lodged its formal response in the landmark genocide case being heard at the International Court of Justice in The Hague. The Presidency confirmed on Sunday that Israel submitted its counter-pleading on Thursday, 12 March 2026, months after the original court-imposed deadline had passed.
The matter, officially designated as the Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v. Israel), centres on allegations that Israel committed genocidal acts during its military campaign in the Palestinian territory. Pretoria had filed its own memorial on 28 October 2024, after which the ICJ set a deadline of 28 July 2025 for Israel's response.
Israel, however, sought additional time on two separate occasions, both of which were approved by the world court. With the response now on record, Pretoria said it would carefully examine the submission before charting its next course of action.
"South Africa will now consider Israel's response and decide whether to request the Court's permission to make further written submissions in reply, or to proceed directly to the oral phase of proceedings."
The government's statement made clear that the legal process unfolds against a backdrop of continued suffering in Gaza. Despite a ceasefire announced on 10 October 2025 and three binding ICJ orders directing Israel to prevent acts potentially falling under the Genocide Convention, the Presidency noted that Palestinian civilians remain subject to persistent bombardment and deteriorating humanitarian conditions.
The court had also instructed Israel to guarantee the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian aid and essential services to the civilian population in the besieged territory. Yet according to the Presidency, those directives have not translated into meaningful relief on the ground.
Ramaphosa urges global unity around international law
The government highlighted warnings from United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, who said this week that the humanitarian crisis in Gaza "remains dire" owing to ongoing strikes, shelling, and severely restricted access to food and other vital services. Escalating tensions in the Gulf region and Israeli military operations in Lebanon have further complicated the picture, with Pretoria cautioning that these developments risk broadening the conflict and threatening both regional and international stability.
President Cyril Ramaphosa used the moment to issue a broader appeal for the defence of the rules-based international order, framing the Gaza crisis as a defining test for multilateral institutions.
"At a time of growing global division and the systematic undermining of the multilateral system, the crisis in Gaza represents an opportunity to unite humanity and remind us all of our shared values."
The President stressed the critical importance of upholding international legal principles and reinforced his view that bodies such as the United Nations and judicial mechanisms like the ICJ must continue to play a central role in resolving disputes between nations. Pretoria has positioned itself as a leading voice in the Global South on the Gaza conflict, and the genocide case remains one of the most closely watched proceedings at the world court in decades.
South Africa's pursuit of the genocide case at the International Court of Justice carries significant weight for citizens as it reinforces the country's post-apartheid commitment to international law and human rights. The prolonged legal proceedings and ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza could influence diplomatic relationships and trade dynamics, particularly with nations in the Global South. How Pretoria navigates the next phase, whether through further written submissions or oral proceedings, will shape its standing as a credible voice in multilateral institutions.
