The newly-formed International Coalition to Stop Genocide in Palestine has garnered 900 organizational endorsements from around the world in less than one week.
Organizations include Progressive International, World March of Women and the International People’s Assembly, Palestinian-led and Palestinian solidarity movements such as Palestinian General Federation of Trade Unions and the Palestinian NGO Network, as well as human rights and legal groups, unions, and religious organizations of all faiths.
The groups are urging countries to support South Africa’s genocide case — see the heavily documented Application — against Israel at the International Court of Justice. The ICJ, also called the World Court, will take up South Africa’s case against the Israeli State on Jan. 11 and 12. The ICSGP is calling on endorsing organizations to join actions of support at The Hague during the hearing and to hold local rallies and vigils, including expressions of gratitude and solidarity at South African embassies, this week. Details about the hearing at The Hague and where to watch it are here.
Edith Ballantyne, former secretary general and International President of Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, warns, “I write from my personal experience over ten decades, spanning two world wars and living through fascism, with the absolute conviction that the basis of the conflict must be solved in a legal, political and non-violent way as the only means to achieve permanent peace desperately needed by the world’s peoples and for the survival of our planet.” She adds, “Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom was involved in the Middle East conflict since the 1920s when it recognized that what was happening in Palestine was destined to be catastrophic. The genocidal war the government of Israel is waging in the Occupied Palestinian Territories against the Palestinian People must be stopped. I urge all to challenge their governments to live up to the principles of the UN Charter and international law, including human rights and humanitarian law.”
See from Marjorie Cohn: “Israel Is Terrified the World Court Will Decide It’s Committing Genocide.” And see from Commondreams: “Israel Accused of ‘Effort to Intimidate the Judges’ Ahead of Genocide Hearings,” which cites an Israeli diplomatic cable.
Morgan Ody of the Confédération paysanne (France) and General Coordinator of La Vía Campesina International said: “La Via Campesina calls upon the governments of the world, and in particular progressive governments and those in the Global South, to do everything in their power to stop Israel’s apartheid and colonization. Those governments have the responsibility to coordinate their efforts in order to ensure a future for Palestine and for all Palestinian people, and to make sure that those responsible for Israel’s crimes against humanity are held accountable.” The coalition letter urges all signing organizations to press their governments to “immediately file a Declaration of Intervention in support of the South African case against Israel at the International Court of Justice to stop the killing in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.”
“The South African filing before the ICJ marks a critical juncture which tests the global will to salvage the laws and systems which were designed to safeguard not merely human rights; but to preserve humanity itself,” emphasizes Lamis Deek, co-founder of The Global Legal Alliance for Palestine and the PAL Commission on War Crimes.
The letter from the coalition states: “Many countries have rightly expressed their horror at the State of Israel’s genocidal actions, war crimes and crimes against humanity being committed against Palestinians. Israeli Occupying Forces have bombed hospitals, residences, United Nations refugee centers, schools, places of worship and escape routes, killing and injuring tens of thousands of Palestinians since October 7, 2023. More than half of the dead are women and children.”
Contacts with the coalition:
Ajamu Baraka, ajamubaraka2@gmail.com
Lamis Deek, Deek@DeekDictorAdi.com
Suzanne Adely, suzanne.adely@gmail.com
See from Sam Husseini: “For the New Year, Global Solidarity to Save Palestine: Backing South Africa.”