South Africa is evaluating Israel's formal response to allegations of genocide in Gaza, submitted to the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on March 12, 2026. The filing comes after two court-approved deadline extensions, with Israel initially required to respond by July 28, 2025. The case, initiated by South Africa in October 2024, accuses Israel of violating the Genocide Convention during the conflict in Gaza.
Despite a ceasefire declared in October 2025 and three ICJ orders mandating Israel to prevent genocidal acts and ensure humanitarian aid access, South Africa claims violence persists. The government highlighted recent warnings from UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who described Gaza's conditions as 'dire' due to ongoing strikes and aid shortages.
Regional instability, including Israeli military actions in Lebanon and rising Gulf tensions, has further complicated the crisis. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa urged global solidarity, stating, 'The crisis in Gaza should unite humanity around shared values,' while emphasizing the need to strengthen multilateral institutions like the UN.
South Africa will now determine whether to submit additional arguments or proceed to oral hearings, a decision that could shape one of the ICJ's most closely watched cases this year.
