In December 2023, South Africa filed a case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), alleging violations of the 1948 Genocide Convention. This action came less than three months after Hamas’s invasion of southern Israel on October 7. Since then, the ICJ has issued three provisional rulings regarding the matter.
In January 2024, the court acknowledged some of the rights claimed by South Africa on behalf of the people of Gaza as plausible. It mandated Israel to refrain from committing acts of genocide, to permit humanitarian aid, to avoid destroying evidence, and to cooperate with United Nations investigators. In March, a further ruling required Israel to increase humanitarian aid access to Gaza. Then, in May, the court ordered Israel to pause its military actions in Rafah. The case is now moving into the merits phase, with Israel’s final written arguments expected by May 2029.
To discuss the implications of this case, a webinar featuring scholars from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem was organized by the UCLA Y&S Nazarian Center for Israel Studies and co-sponsored by the UCLA Center for Middle East Development. The event will analyze the allegations against Israel from a scholarly perspective. It marks the start of a five-year collaboration between the Nazarian Center and the Hebrew University, established by a memorandum in September 2026.
The webinar will include presentations from esteemed professors, such as David Kretzmer, a professor emeritus specializing in International and Constitutional Law, and Danny Orbach, an associate professor focused on military history and political dynamics. The discussion aims to unpack the legal complexities and historical context surrounding the genocide allegations.
Professor Steven E. Zipperstein, the director of the UCLA Y&S Nazarian Center for Israel Studies, will serve as the moderator of the webinar. He is also a Visiting Professor at Tel Aviv University Law School and has authored several academic works, including the upcoming release, “The Legal Case for Palestine: A Critical Assessment.”
As the case unfolds within the international legal arena, participants in the webinar will provide insights on the ramifications of South Africa’s accusations and the ongoing situation in Gaza as the ICJ proceedings progress.
