Solidarity in Ramallah: Palestinians Applaud South Africa's ICJ Case Against Israel

In a poignant gesture of solidarity and appreciation, Palestinians converged on Ramallah's Nelson Mandela Square on Wednesday, January 10, to extend their heartfelt thanks to South Africa. The rally was a response to South Africa's decision to file a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for its actions in Gaza—accusations that reverberate with genocidal implications.

The scene was one of collective hope and peaceful protest; participants wielded banners clamoring for a ceasefire in the besieged Gaza Strip. The square, named after the anti-apartheid revolutionary and former South African President Nelson Mandela, added a layer of historic resonance to the event. Mandela himself had drawn parallels between the conditions faced by Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank and the oppression encountered by Black South Africans under apartheid.

Issa Kassis, the mayor of Ramallah located in the occupied West Bank, could not disguise his community's gratitude. "Today we say thank you. Thank you to South Africa," he proclaimed, acknowledging the bold step South Africa took in bringing the plight of the Palestinians to an international judicial body. Kassis recognized the empathy that many countries may have felt towards the Palestinians, but underscored the significant move by South Africa to lay out those grievances formally before the court.

The case is set to undertake its preliminary hearings on Thursday, January 11. Arguments presented by South Africa to the ICJ describe Israeli operations as potentially genocidal, given the large number of Palestinian deaths in Gaza, the infliction of serious mental and physical harm, and the imposition of living conditions designed to decimate them as a distinct group.

This perspective has gained international backing from five nations—including Jordan, Turkey, and Malaysia—which have openly expressed their support. Conversely, Israel and the United States have stood in opposition. Incriminatory accusations against the Israeli army emerged from an investigation by +972 Magazine and Hebrew-language outlet Local Call, relying on various intelligence sources from within Israel. These reports suggest that the Israeli military intentionally targeted civilian infrastructure, a claim that the Israeli government vehemently denies.

On January 2nd, Israeli government spokesperson Eylon Levy refuted the allegations as "blood libel" and confirmed that Israel would make representations before the ICJ in The Hague to refute the claims. Levy further emphasized the lack of factual and legal foundation to the accusations put forth in the case.

According to Palestinian health officials, the continuing conflict in Gaza has seen the deaths of more than 23,200 Palestinians, with a disproportionate number being women and children. In a particularly devastating episode on October 7, Hamas militants were reported to have killed approximately 1,200 individuals, mostly civilians, and abducted around 250 people, nearly half of whom have since been released.

The gathering in Mandela Square, therefore, stands as a multilayered symbol—a thank you note, an emblem of international support, and a silent prayer for justice and peace.