We’re releasing this week’s episode early to respond to the groundbreaking case made by South Africa in The Hague against Israel’s genocidal campaign in Gaza. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) of the UN is hearing charges of genocide brought against Israel by South Africa, alleging that Israel has violated the 1948 Genocide Convention. While the ICC, which prosecutes individuals on such charges of crimes against humanity, has dragged its feet in procuring justice for Palestinians, the current case seeks swift action from the international community to condemn Israel’s genocidal acts.
The ICJ does not have the coercive power to enforce an outcome after it has made a decision, report Noura Erakat and John Reynolds for Jacobin. But it can massively sway international opinion. While the case might ultimately take years to come to a final decision, the ICJ could provisionally demand a ceasefire, by which, Erakat and Reynolds write, Israel would be “formally bound.” In our conversation with Norm Finkelstein, we discuss the politics of the ICJ, the likely outcomes of this case, and what a decision in favor of Palestine — or of Israel — would do. You can listen to this episode as a podcast when it’s released tomorrow on Spotify, Pandora, Apple Podcasts, and more.
Episode 157 Audio: Norman Finkelstein