WE'LL be live blogging tomorrow as South Africa accuses Israel of genocide at the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
While the UK Government has repeatedly abstained at UN votes for a ceasefire in Gaza, South Africa has been a fierce critic of Israel’s military campaign.
It's a hugely significant and historic case which is of big interest to our readers, and we'll be bringing you all the live updates as it's heard.
Join us at thenational.scot from 9am on Thursday and Friday to follow the live updates.
We'll also bring you analysis and explainers after both South Africa and Israel's sides are heard, offering insight into what it all means. All of this will be free to access.
Much of the UK media has been happy to turn a blind eye to, downplay and excuse the horrific bombardment of Gaza.
The National will continue to call out the terrible situation faced by Palestinians even when some try to silence us for doing so.
Why is South Africa taking Israel to the International Court of Justice?
Many, including President Cyril Ramaphosa, have compared Israel’s policies in Gaza and the West Bank with South Africa’s past apartheid regime of racial segregation.
The Pretoria government will be joined by "senior political figures from progressive political parties and movements across the globe" as they take their case to The Hague.
The delegation will be led by South African minister of justice and correctional services Ronald Lamola.
Lamola said: “We are determined to see the end of the genocide that is currently taking place in Gaza.
“We are most encouraged by leaders of the world who have not blunted their consciousness and have stood on the right side of history by supporting a case that seeks to protect the rights of human beings, regardless of their nationality or ethnicity.”
Israel’s president Isaac Herzog [below, with Blinken] called the ICJ case filed by South Africa “atrocious and preposterous”.
At a press conference with US secretary of state Antony Blinken on Tuesday, Herzog said: “Actually, our enemies, Hamas, in their charter, call for the destruction of our nation, the State of Israel – the only nation-state of the Jewish people.”
He went on to accuse South Africa of hypocrisy for bringing the case to the ICJ and thanked Blinken for Washington’s support of Israel.
Herzog added that Israel makes utmost efforts to avoid civilian casualties in Gaza.
Some 1200 people, mainly civilians, were killed in Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel. Since the war began, more than 23,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 58,000 have been wounded in Israel’s assault in Gaza.
The public hearings at the ICJ will take place on Thursday and Friday at the Peace Palace in The Hague.
