South African attorney Richard Spoor on Israel's presentation at The Hague.

[lapucelle]

Well, that was a very impressive and dignified response by Israel. The confidence we had coming out of yesterday’s hearing has pretty much evaporated. It does appear that SA’s case was light on hard evidence.

The evidence of genocidal intent in the form of statements by leaders is much less impactful when placed in context and countered with other statements, orders and directives requiring the Israeli military to respect the rules of war. We missed Israel’s humanitarian initiatives.

snip---------------------------------------

Our claim for provisional measures and in particular for an order halting Israel’s offensive, now appears to be a serious overreach. Israel cannot be ordered to stop its legitimate war against Hamas, especially in circumstances where Hamas will continue its attacks on Israel.

We were embarrassed by our government’s failure to engage properly with Israel before filing the dispute and by our hosting Hamas’ leadership in SA three weeks after that organisation’s indisputably genocidal attack on Israel on 7 October. We need to choose our friends better.

https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1745783066386165951.html

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For more on Richard Spoor's human rights / workers' rights / land rights legal work in South Africa:

For more than 30 years, RSI attorneys have harnessed South Africa’s legal system to defend the rights and interests of vulnerable, marginalised individuals and groups. Our clients are mine workers and trade unionists; commercial organisations and communities, people dispossessed of their land; victims of industrial and occupational neglect or abuse. They must navigate a legal landscape that privileges the State and large corporate entities – and RSI is proud to walk alongside them throughout that journey. We listen to our clients’ stories. We understand their challenges. Through landmark judgments, pioneering settlements and targeted litigation, we empower them. We also contribute to shaping South African case law so that the principles of fairness, dignity and justice enshrined in the nation’s Constitution become a reality for all.

https://rsinc.co.za/about/

[MarineCombatEngineer]

1. Great thread,

now, we wait for the inevitable.

[Swede]

2. When is South Africa going to charge Russia with genocide?

Oh, wait, they like Russia.

[Sympthsical]

3. South Africa wasn't the slam dunk people thought it was

Mainly, I think, because they haven't glanced at what's been happening there in the past twenty years.

A country's imprimatur needs to rest on a bit more than vibes.

But we're not exactly dealing with a reservoir of geopolitical knowledge in a lot of the protesting. I see some people are mad that the Houthi are being attacked . . . whoever they are.

[lapucelle]

4. The breathless coverage of the start of the proceedings on Thursday also evaporated on Friday.

There was even a link here posted at around 4:30AM so that folks could watch live coverage of South Africa trying to make its case.

Then there was nothing on Israel's rebuttal and the fact that Germany will be presenting its own case against South Africa's charges against Israel.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

5. And when Germany declared its intent to intervene on Israel's behalf,

it got real quiet here from the usual people.

[Sympthsical]

6. I saw people saying Malcolm Shaw didn't know what he was talking about

Just LOL.

This Malcolm Shaw.

[LeftInTX]

7. I kept looking

[mcar]

8. Thanks for this

adds a lot of clarity to SA's antisemitic actions.